HORSHAM SEX OFFENDER KEVIN DELLER SENTENCED AFTER GROOMING TEEN IN EXMOUTH

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Horsham and the surrounding areas, Kevin Deller, a 32-year-old man from Coltsfoot Drive, Horsham, Sussex, was brought before Exeter Crown Court to face serious allegations related to online grooming and child exploitation.

According to court proceedings, Deller had engaged in a disturbing pattern of behavior involving a teenage girl he met through an internet chat platform. The relationship began with the exchange of explicit photographs, which Deller had sent and received from the girl, who was underage. The situation escalated when, on New Year’s Day, he traveled over 100 miles from Horsham to Exmouth with the intent of meeting her face-to-face for the first time.

During their encounter, the court was told that the two got into the back of Deller’s car, where they huddled under a blanket. It was alleged that Deller persuaded the girl to touch him sexually, an act that was part of the grooming process. The court heard that after the meeting, Deller drove back home and continued to send her sexualized messages, including one that read, “I’ve had four hours to think about it. LOL. You’re addicted to me.”

Police investigations uncovered more disturbing evidence on Deller’s phone, including indecent images of children and internet search histories indicating he had been actively seeking images of underage girls. Authorities found that he had visited 759 websites that potentially contained child abuse images, further highlighting the extent of his online activity.

In court, the prosecution, led by Mr. Andrew Macfarlane, detailed how Deller had initiated contact with the girl through an online chat site, exchanged nude photographs, and then arranged to meet her. The court was told that Deller traveled from Horsham in his Ford Focus to Exmouth, where he took the girl to a McDonald’s before they got into the back of his car. There, under a blanket, he allegedly touched her sexually. The girl later provided a heartfelt impact statement, expressing the profound effect the encounter had on her, words that underscored the seriousness of the case.

Defense lawyer Miss Emily Pitts argued that Deller was a hardworking individual who was eager to address the underlying issues that contributed to his offending. She emphasized that her client was immature for his age and had experienced significant emotional trauma, including the tragic loss of his partner’s child, which led her to take her own life. Pitts maintained that Deller never intended to have intercourse with the girl and that the physical contact had stopped well before any sexual activity could have occurred.

Judge Mr. Martin Meeke, QC, sentenced Deller to two years in prison, but the sentence was suspended for two years, meaning he would not serve time immediately but would be under supervision and required to undertake a sex offenders’ treatment program. The judge highlighted the importance of protecting children and acknowledged the potential for rehabilitation through the program, which is highly regarded for its effectiveness in changing offending attitudes.

Earlier, in October 2016, Deller had already faced charges related to grooming a 15-year-old girl and possessing indecent images of children. He admitted to meeting the girl in Devon on New Year’s Day, 2015, and to inciting her to engage in sexual activity. The court had warned him that such offenses typically result in imprisonment, and bail was granted with a stern warning about the likely outcome of his case.

Overall, the case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat online child exploitation and the importance of safeguarding vulnerable minors from predators like Kevin Deller, whose actions have caused significant harm and distress to the victims involved.