ALASTAIR DIXON SENTENCED IN COLCHESTER FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES AND BREACHES OF COURT ORDER

In a significant case that highlights ongoing concerns about the monitoring and management of sex offenders, Alastair Dixon, a man in his 30s residing in Colchester, was recently brought to justice after a series of serious breaches of court-imposed restrictions and attempts to engage in illegal and predatory online activities.

The case came to light when specialist officers, tasked with overseeing the risk posed by sex offenders, uncovered evidence linking Dixon to multiple offences. Despite being under a stringent 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), which was issued at Ipswich Crown Court in August 2023, Dixon continued to breach the conditions of this order. The SHPO was designed to impose restrictions on his use of electronic devices and to monitor his activities to prevent further offending.

In October 2024, authorities caught Dixon in the act of sending sexual messages and explicit images to an online decoy that was posing as a 14-year-old boy. This act was particularly alarming given his existing legal restrictions. The decoy was part of an undercover operation aimed at preventing child exploitation, and Dixon’s actions demonstrated a blatant disregard for the court’s orders and the safety of minors.

Further investigations revealed that Dixon was in possession of an unauthorized smartphone, which he had obtained in defiance of the court’s restrictions. Authorities also discovered that he had installed software on his home computers that allowed him to delete evidence, indicating an attempt to conceal his activities. In addition, Dixon attempted to obstruct justice by creating an email account under the name of an innocent individual and sharing a link containing indecent images of children, further complicating his case.

Dixon, who lives on Pilborough Way in Colchester, admitted to multiple charges, including attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity, attempting to communicate sexually with a minor, seven breaches of the Sexual Harm Prevention Order, failing to comply with notification requirements, and perverting the course of justice.

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Emma Peters described Dixon’s actions as “sophisticated, serious offences” that posed a significant threat to public safety. She sentenced him to five years in prison. Additionally, Dixon was ordered to be subject to a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will be required to adhere to notification requirements for the remainder of his life, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions to prevent further offending.