MICHAEL DYNES FROM DUNGANNON AND BALLYMENA FACES COURT OVER SEX OFFENCES AND BREACHES

In February 2019, a man with a troubling history of sexual offences and breaches of court orders found himself back in the spotlight, this time for violating the conditions of a sexual offenders’ prevention order. Michael Dynes, aged 41, originally from Dungannon but residing at Galgorm Road, Gracehill, Ballymena, was sentenced to six months of probation after admitting to breaching the court-mandated restrictions.

The case was initially adjourned at Magherafelt Magistrates Court last month to allow for a pre-sentence report to be prepared. During the proceedings, it was revealed that Dynes had engaged in a dinner with a woman on September 7, and subsequently, she had spent the night at his residence. This act was a clear violation of the court order, which explicitly prohibited him from having unsupervised contact with women and children, especially given his past convictions.

On October 20, the court was informed that Dynes had stayed overnight at the woman’s home, breaching the terms of his sexual offenders’ prevention order. Further, it was disclosed that while the woman was shopping in Belfast, someone had placed a sticker on her car’s windscreen. This sticker contained a link to a website article detailing Dynes’ previous convictions, indicating an ongoing effort to publicly shame or inform others about his criminal history.

It was also noted that Dynes had entered into a relationship with the woman without disclosing his status as a registered sex offender. His past criminal record is extensive; he was previously convicted of multiple charges related to child exploitation and indecent images. Between 2007 and 2015, Dynes admitted to 41 charges, including making and possessing indecent images of children, inciting children to perform sexual acts, and voyeurism. His criminal activities involved tricking both children and adults into posing for him, often under false pretenses, and sometimes recording private acts without consent.

During the sentencing, District Judge Oonagh Mullan emphasized the importance of active participation in rehabilitation programs. She ordered Dynes to cooperate fully with assessments conducted by the Probation Board for Northern Ireland (PBNI) to determine his suitability for various intervention programs. The judge also mandated that he reside at an approved address and seek prior permission for any change of residence. Additionally, Dynes was prohibited from living in the same household as any child under 18 without prior approval and was barred from having unsupervised contact with children or vulnerable adults.

Furthermore, the court stipulated that Dynes must not form intimate relationships with women where children under 18 are present unless he has made verifiable disclosures to his probation officer. These conditions are designed to minimize the risk of reoffending and protect the community from potential harm.

In a related case from March 2017, Dynes, then 39, was involved in a series of heinous crimes involving the exploitation of children. Originally from Dungannon and now living in a Ballymena hostel, he was considered by the National Crime Agency as being involved in some of the worst cases of child sexual exploitation. Dynes had set himself up as a fake model agent, luring both children and adults into posing for him, often under false pretenses, and sometimes coercing them into performing lewd acts.

The court heard that Dynes targeted young people through advertisements on the Gumtree website, seeking 'life models.' He would then conduct online auditions via webcam, sometimes pretending to be a female, to exploit his victims. His criminal record includes charges of downloading child sex abuse images, voyeurism, inciting children to perform sexual acts, and fraudulent behavior involving four adult female victims.

Judge Neil Rafferty QC sentenced Dynes to a total of three years and one month, considering that he had already served the equivalent of 28 months. The judge explained that instead of returning him to jail for a short period, it was more beneficial for public safety and the protection of children to extend his period of statutory supervision through a tailored probation program. This approach aims to facilitate rehabilitation and reduce the risk of reoffending.

Judge Rafferty highlighted that Dynes, a married man with employment and a home, had lost everything due to his criminal actions. His offending spanned from 2007 to 2015 and included the possession of over a thousand images of child abuse, with more than 400 classified as first-generation images. Some of these images were in the highest category of severity. Dynes was also caught installing hidden cameras in a bedroom and a workplace kitchen, which recorded private acts and upskirt footage, respectively.

The judge acknowledged Dynes’ remorse and cooperation with probation, noting his willingness to engage with treatment programs and his victim awareness. Nevertheless, he warned that any breach of the court’s orders would result in immediate remand back into custody to serve the full sentence. The case underscores the ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies in Northern Ireland, including the PSNI and the National Crime Agency, to combat child exploitation and hold offenders accountable.