LEE MAIDENS SENT CHILD SEX ABUSE IMAGES AND PLOTTED TO ABUSE 10-YEAR-OLD IN DONCASTER

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Doncaster, a local man named Lee Maidens has been convicted and sentenced for heinous child sexual offences. The investigation, carried out by the Internet Sexual Offences Team (ISOT), uncovered a series of deeply disturbing online activities involving Maidens, who resides on Brabbs Avenue in Doncaster.

On October 3, 2024, authorities executed a search warrant at Maidens' residence following intelligence that linked him to online child sexual abuse. The investigation revealed that between September 3, 2024, and October 3, 2024, Maidens had been actively communicating with an adult online profile. During these exchanges, he expressed intentions to commit sexual offences against a child he believed to be 10 years old, demonstrating a clear predatory mindset.

Further probing into his online activity uncovered that Maidens had sent multiple videos containing the most explicit forms of child abuse images, classified as Category A, along with other videos categorized as Category B. These videos depicted the abuse of children as young as 11 months old, highlighting the severity and depravity of his actions. The evidence confirmed that Maidens was the individual responsible for distributing these illegal images and videos online.

When questioned by authorities, Maidens chose to remain silent, offering no comment to any of the questions posed during his interview. His charges included the distribution of indecent images and videos of children, with four of the videos classified as Category A and three as Category B. Additionally, he faced charges related to attempting to cause a child under 13 to view sexual images and for arranging or facilitating a sexual offence against a child.

On October 4, 2024, Maidens pleaded guilty to three of the charges, and he later admitted to the fourth on January 8, 2025. His sentencing took place at Sheffield Crown Court on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, where he was handed a six-year prison term. An extended license period of four years was also imposed, meaning he will be under supervision for a significant time after his release.

During the sentencing, Judge Harrison described Maidens as a dangerous individual, emphasizing that his offending only ceased when he was arrested. She expressed concern over the serious risk he poses to the public and highlighted the potential for significant harm if he were to reoffend. The case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat online child exploitation and protect vulnerable victims from such predatory behavior.