STEVEN DAWSON FROM KENDAL FREED AFTER WINNING APPEAL AGAINST INDEFINITE SENTENCE

In a significant legal development, Steven Neil Dawson, a resident of Kendal, has been released from custody after successfully appealing his previously imposed indefinite imprisonment. Dawson, aged 30, was initially sentenced to an open-ended term of detention at Carlisle Crown Court in July 2009, following his guilty plea to charges related to attempting to entice young individuals into sexual activities via the social media platform Facebook.

His original sentence was categorized as one of indefinite detention for public protection, a measure that closely resembles a life sentence, designed to protect the public from individuals deemed to pose a serious risk. Dawson’s conviction stemmed from his actions involving the solicitation of minors online, which raised grave concerns about his potential threat to society.

At the time of sentencing, Dawson was living at Crag View in Kendal. His criminal record also included breaches of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) and a suspended sentence previously handed down for an earlier offence. These breaches involved him engaging in online conversations with young girls, despite the restrictions placed upon him.

The case was brought before the Court of Appeal in London, where top judges, including Lord Justice Richards, reviewed the legality and appropriateness of the original sentence. During the hearing, it was revealed that Dawson first attracted police attention in 2006 after making inappropriate and suggestive remarks to a 12-year-old girl he contacted over the internet. For this initial offence, he received a suspended sentence and was subject to a SOPO that prohibited him from making any further online contact with minors for a period of ten years.

Despite these restrictions, Dawson continued to breach the court’s orders. In early 2009, he contacted a 15-year-old girl through Facebook, sending her text messages that became increasingly suggestive. He proposed sexual activities and expressed a desire to meet her in person. The court heard that a month later, Dawson again violated the court’s orders by messaging a 13-year-old girl on Facebook and adding her as a friend. There was also evidence indicating he had attempted to contact another teenager via the same social media platform.

Expert assessments from probation officers and psychiatrists indicated a high risk that Dawson might re-offend, and they expressed concerns that his dangerousness could not be managed safely within the community. Despite these findings, the Court of Appeal ultimately decided that the indefinite sentence was inappropriate. Lord Justice Richards emphasized that such a sentence is reserved solely for the most dangerous offenders and that, in this case, a standard, three-year custodial sentence was more suitable.

As a result of the appeal, Dawson’s indefinite detention was replaced with a fixed-term sentence of three years, effectively leading to his immediate release. However, the court maintained the existing restrictions, including the ten-year SOPO, which continues to prohibit him from working with children and from engaging in online contact with minors. The court’s decision underscores the importance of balancing public safety with legal principles concerning appropriate sentencing for offenders.