PAUL DUNN OF BASELIDON SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORN DISTRIBUTION IN SOUTHEND

In a case that has shocked the local community of Basildon, Paul Dunn, aged 51, has been sentenced to 15 months in prison after being found guilty of sharing multiple indecent images of children over the internet. The conviction stems from his online activities where he used the alias 'Nature Driver' to distribute a total of ten illicit images.

According to court records, Dunn pleaded guilty to two counts of distributing indecent images, which ranged in severity from level one, the least serious category, to a more disturbing level four, which involved a particularly serious image. The prosecution, led by Glenda Thompson, highlighted that Dunn's criminal history includes a prior conviction from 2003 for a similar offence. He had served a three-year sentence and was released on licence, only to reoffend nearly four years later.

The court was informed that on July 27, 2007, Dunn sent indecent images to another individual who was also a convicted offender. This act demonstrated a continued pattern of offending despite his previous conviction and release. The images shared included some depicting naked children at a campsite, which the defense argued were not sexual in nature, although the accompanying conversations were inappropriate. Matthew Bone, representing Dunn, described the incidents as occurring within minutes of each other and characterized them as a single lapse in judgment rather than a sustained pattern of abuse.

Bone emphasized that Dunn had taken steps towards rehabilitation, including securing employment and participating in courses aimed at addressing his issues. Despite these efforts, he was later arrested and remanded in Belmarsh prison, where he awaited sentencing.

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Ian Graham expressed particular concern over the nature of the images, describing one as of a “particularly unpleasant and serious nature.” The judge underscored that the images originated from actual abuse of children, making the offense even more grave. He stated, “They are serious because these images originated from actual abuse of children. They are not something that was made up.”

As a result, Dunn was sentenced to a term of 15 months in prison. Additionally, he will be required to register as a sex offender for the next ten years, reflecting the severity of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses to the community of Basildon and beyond.