HANFORD PAEDOPHILE MICHAEL DEAKIN SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON FOR SICKENING CHILD ABUSE IN STOKE-ON-TRENT

In December 2016, Michael Deakin, a man from Hanford, was handed a severe prison sentence of ten years after being convicted of a series of heinous crimes involving the sexual abuse of minors. The case was heard at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, where the details of Deakin’s disturbing actions were laid bare.

Deakin, aged 56 at the time, was found guilty of multiple offenses that included the sexual exploitation of a three-year-old girl. Court proceedings revealed that he had performed a sexual act on the young child and had taken a photograph of the act, an act that added to the gravity of his crimes. The court was also informed that Deakin had targeted a teenage girl, coercing her into removing her clothing so he could take explicit photographs of her. Furthermore, a third victim, aged between nine and ten, was subjected to Deakin’s inappropriate behavior when he asked her to pose for photographs and also watched her while she was taking a bath.

Authorities seized Deakin’s digital camera and computer during his arrest, uncovering a disturbing collection of over 11,000 indecent images. Among these, nearly 3,500 were classified as Category A, indicating the most severe level of indecency. These findings underscored the extent of his depravity and the seriousness of his offenses.

Deakin, who resided on Niall Road in Hanford, pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including three counts of making indecent photographs of children, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, two counts of taking indecent photographs of children, assaulting a child under 13 by penetration, sexual assault of a child under 13, and voyeurism. His actions spanned several years, with some of the images dating back to 2004, illustrating a long-standing pattern of predatory behavior.

Judge David Fletcher, presiding over the case, condemned Deakin’s conduct, stating, “This catalogue of offences represents a pattern of depraved behaviour over a lengthy period of time. The making of some of the images goes back to 2004. The overall picture presented is one of a man who really has sunk to the depths of depravity over a number of years. You performed a sex act on a very young child indeed. That is a very worrying and concerning aspect of this behaviour.”

In addition to his prison sentence, Deakin was subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will be required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions to protect the community from further harm.