MARK DICKSON FROM ROCESTER CAUGHT WITH VILE CHILD SEX IMAGES AND VIDEOS IN UTTORUTER

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local community of Rocester near Uttoxeter, Mark Dickson, aged 61, found himself at the center of a serious criminal investigation involving the possession and distribution of indecent images of children. The incident came to light after police executed a search warrant at his residence on Valley Walk early in the morning of October 19, 2017.

According to court reports, officers arrived at Dickson's home at approximately 7 a.m. and encountered a hostile response from the defendant, who was subsequently detained and arrested. During the search, law enforcement officials recovered several electronic devices, including a Samsung phone and two computers, all of which were confirmed to belong solely to Dickson, as he lived alone. These devices contained a significant amount of illegal material, which was discovered during the investigation.

The police found a staggering collection of indecent images and videos depicting children, with a total of 584 items classified across various categories of severity. Dickson admitted to creating 144 images categorized as Category A, which are considered the most severe and disturbing. Additionally, he acknowledged producing 182 images and videos classified as Category B, along with 189 images and videos in Category C. The offences spanned a period from May 11, 2010, to October 13, 2017, highlighting a prolonged period of criminal activity.

Further, Dickson confessed to distributing 69 indecent images in October 2017. The court was informed that some of the material involved the rape of very young girls, as young as four years old, which underscores the heinous nature of the crimes committed.

Throughout police interviews, Dickson maintained silence or refused to comment on the allegations, initially claiming that the material had been planted on his devices as part of a conspiracy orchestrated by the government. However, on the day of his trial, he changed his plea and admitted guilt to three charges of making indecent images and one charge of distributing such images involving children.

Judge Jonathan Gosling addressed Dickson directly during the hearing, stating, "Your denial of sexual interest in young girls is ridiculous. Your huge library of vile images speaks volumes." The judge expressed that he would have had no hesitation in sending Dickson directly to prison but was influenced by the defendant's terminal cancer diagnosis and ongoing medical treatment.

As a result, Dickson was sentenced to nine months in prison, suspended for two years. He will also be required to register as a sex offender for a period of ten years and will be subject to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, reflecting the serious nature of his crimes and the ongoing risk to the community.