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An “isolated” man was caught with a range of downloaded images of children who had been “subject to unimaginable horrors.” Jack Dean, 70, was found to have been part of an online community for “like minded people” who shared his sexual interest in children after a police search in January 2023. More than two years on, Bolton Crown Court heard about the extreme nature of the images with children as young as four.
Prosecutor Wayne Jackson said: “The images were found with a search of his IP address during a search of his home.” He added: “The defending was communicating online using a chatroom with others with a sexual interest in children and animals.” The case was heard at Bolton Crown Court (Image: Anthony Moss) Mr Jackson told the court crimes like this appear to be “more prevalent than it was a few years ago.
” Dean was found to have downloaded 16 Category A images of children, 23 Category B images and 81 Category C images with two extreme images of animals. The images appeared to have been downloaded between October 2022 and December 2023. Brought before the courts Dean, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children and two counts of possessing extreme images of animals.
Georgia Faulke, defending, said that Dean deserved credit for his guilty plea and told the court he had shown real remorse for his actions. She said: “The defendant is deeply ashamed of his behaviour and states that on reflection he feels sick at what he did.” Ms Faulke said that Dean was likely to face a harsh time in prison because of his age and health.
But Judge Jon Close reminded the court of the “cruel” nature of the images. Addressing the 70-year-old, of Lindfield Drive, Halliwell, directly he said: “You were part of a community of likeminded people.” He added: “These are not ones and zeros on a computer, each image is a child who has been subject to unimaginable horrors.
” Judge Close said that the retired Dean, who he said lived alone, came across as an “isolated” figure who “relished the suffering of children for your own selfish sexual desires.” He sentenced Dean to 14 months in prison, suspended for two years, and made him subject to a two-year supervision requirement. Judge Close ordered him to complete the building choices programme, with 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
He also made the 70-year-old subject to a 10-year notification requirement with a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and made him subject to the barring list. Before he left the dock, Judge Close warned Dean “if you stumble, you will go to prison.”.
