DERRICK FINCH SENTENCED IN BEXHILL FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

In May 2011, Derrick Finch, a 58-year-old resident of Claxton Road in Bexhill, was subjected to a severe legal punishment after being convicted of multiple serious offences involving a young girl and child exploitation materials. The case was heard at Lewes Crown Court, where Finch received a prison sentence of four and a half years, a decision that was upheld by a panel of three senior judges despite objections from his legal representatives.

According to court proceedings, Finch’s criminal conduct began when he encountered a 13-year-old girl on the street. After observing her and her friend laughing at something on their mobile phones, Finch approached them and engaged in conversation. During this interaction, he handed the girl his phone number and requested that she send him a picture they were viewing. The girl complied, sending a cartoon image from her school, which Finch then saved to his device. This initial contact marked the beginning of Finch’s grooming efforts, which later escalated into inappropriate and predatory communication.

Subsequently, Finch used the alias “Paul” to send the girl a series of lurid and sexually explicit text messages. The court heard that he sent a total of 18 messages, some of which inquired about masturbation and sexual activity, clearly aiming to manipulate and exploit the young girl. The girl’s mother eventually discovered the messages, leading to police involvement. Investigations traced Finch’s phone number to a device registered to his partner, confirming his involvement.

Further police searches of Finch’s electronic devices uncovered a disturbing collection of child abuse videos. Among these, one was classified by authorities as being at the most depraved level of content, highlighting the severity of Finch’s offending. The court was informed that Finch had admitted to arranging a child sex offence, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and possessing indecent photographs of children.

Throughout the trial, Finch’s legal team argued that his sentence was excessively harsh and that he should be given more credit for his previous good character. They also claimed that the length of the sentence was unjustified. However, Mr Justice Beatson, along with Lord Justice Laws and Mr Justice Foskett, dismissed these arguments. The judges emphasized the seriousness of Finch’s crimes, particularly noting his deliberate grooming of the 13-year-old girl and the possession of child abuse videos.

Mr Justice Beatson stated that the offences were “undoubtedly serious,” and highlighted that Finch had made a concerted effort to manipulate the young girl. The court also justified the consecutive nature of the sentences for the separate offences, including the possession of indecent videos. Despite Finch’s late guilty plea, the judges maintained that the overall sentence was appropriate and not excessively long, given the gravity of his actions. The decision underscores the judiciary’s stance on protecting children from exploitation and punishing those who commit such heinous crimes in Bexhill and beyond.