SHAUN HICKS FROM BRIGHTON JAILED FOR CHILD SEX IMAGE OFFENSES IN LEWES ROAD

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the Brighton community, Shaun Hicks, a 36-year-old bus driver, has been sentenced to prison for possessing and distributing highly disturbing images depicting child sexual abuse. Hicks, who was employed at the Brighton and Hove Bus Company’s depot located on Lewes Road in Brighton, admitted to the court that he possessed these horrific images, some of which included infants. His actions have not only led to his incarceration but also raised serious concerns about the safety and protection of minors in the area.

Hicks’s criminal activities came to light after he engaged in a disturbing online encounter with a 16-year-old boy. The prosecution revealed that Hicks had initially contacted the teenager through phone numbers he left in public toilets, a method often used to target vulnerable youths. The two arranged to meet outside a Co-op store situated on Portland Road in Hove in September. Following this meeting, they went to the boy’s residence, where Hicks, who went by the alias “Mark,” proceeded to show the teenager images stored on his Blackberry mobile phone. These images were of a highly disturbing nature, involving child abuse, and some depicted babies.

Prosecutor Amy Packham explained that the boy stated Hicks had claimed to be in some of the images. Hicks allegedly told the teenager that the baby in some of the pictures might have been a friend’s niece or nephew. Further, Hicks expressed an interest in filming the boy engaging in sexual activities with children belonging to his friends. The court heard that a subsequent meeting was scheduled for the following evening, but the teenager canceled it. However, Hicks reportedly sent more images through the boy’s letterbox that night, intensifying the concern over his intentions.

Following these events, the boy contacted the police, who swiftly acted on the information. Law enforcement officials traced Hicks through the phone number he used to communicate with the teenager. On September 18, officers arrested Hicks at his workplace at the Lewes Road bus depot. During police interviews, Hicks admitted to the possession of the images and expressed a sense of relief at being apprehended, citing personality problems and a desire for help. He claimed that the boy had asked to keep some of the printed images he was shown, which Hicks said he had given him, denying that he had sent the images through the letterbox.

The court was informed that Hicks possessed a total of 30 images and video clips, categorized from Level One to the most severe Level Five, with some involving babies. The severity of these images underscored the gravity of his offenses. Defense lawyer Martyn Williams highlighted Hicks’s troubled background, revealing that he appeared in court on crutches due to injuries sustained from a previous incident. Williams detailed Hicks’s history of physical and sexual abuse as a child, including being raped at the age of 15. The lawyer also explained that Hicks has struggled with his sexuality, having never come to terms with being homosexual, and has attempted suicide multiple times. One such attempt involved jumping from a fourth-floor window after being charged with these offenses, resulting in severe injuries, including a possible amputation of one leg.

Judge Guy Anthony addressed the court, emphasizing the seriousness of Hicks’s crimes. He stated, “These are very serious offences. Any offence involving the distribution or showing of such pictures to young children is serious. Particularly so in this case as a high proportion of the small number of pictures involved were at Level Four or Five and involved babies. Only an immediate custodial sentence is appropriate.” As a result, Hicks was sentenced to 21 months in prison. Additionally, he will be required to register as a sex offender for ten years and is indefinitely barred from working with children under 18. A Sexual Offences Prevention Order has also been imposed, prohibiting him from having any direct or indirect contact with minors under 18 for an indefinite period. This case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement and the judicial system to combat child exploitation and protect vulnerable individuals from predatory behavior in Brighton and beyond.