ANTHONY DEWS FROM MIRFIELD CAUGHT WITH OVER 400 CHILD INDECENT IMAGES AND VIDEOS

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Mirfield, police uncovered a significant collection of indecent images and videos depicting children on the computer of Anthony Dews. The investigation was initiated last summer when authorities received intelligence suggesting that Dews had uploaded some of these illicit images to the internet.

During a raid at his residence on Johnson Street, officers discovered a total of 420 indecent images along with 14 videos stored on his computer. Among these, 44 images and videos were classified within the highest categories of severity, indicating explicit content involving very young children. The ages of the minors depicted ranged from as young as two years old to 14, with the collection also including a 13-year-old boy, as revealed during proceedings at Leeds Crown Court.

Prosecutor Christopher Jackson explained that Dews had initially been searching for images of older teenagers before shifting his focus to pre-teen girls. It was also noted that Dews would save these images over a period of time, often revisiting them for personal gratification. The court heard that Dews, aged 29 at the time, had an apparent interest in teenage girls dressed in silk clothing, which he discussed with others on the internet. Importantly, police found no evidence to suggest that Dews was actively distributing these images to others.

During questioning, Dews initially denied having any sexual interest in children but later admitted to having some level of interest. He pleaded guilty to 11 counts of making indecent images of a child. The court was informed that Dews had been searching for images of older teenagers before his focus shifted to younger children, indicating a pattern of escalating interest.

Judge Christopher Batty, presiding over the case, delivered a stern warning about the impact of such crimes. He emphasized that the actions of Dews and others like him contribute to the suffering of innocent children, citing the case of a young girl who was subjected to a horrific ordeal. The judge described her as someone’s daughter, granddaughter, and sister, highlighting that she would carry the trauma for the rest of her life. The judge pointed out that countless other children are subjected to similar abuse daily, often as a result of the gratification sought by offenders like Dews.

In sentencing, Judge Batty opted for a community-based order rather than immediate imprisonment. Dews was given a three-month supervised community order, which includes a 60-day activity requirement and participation in a sex offenders’ treatment program. Additionally, he will be subject to a sexual offences prevention order for five years and is prohibited from working with children. The judge expressed the view that Dews’s rehabilitation was more likely to benefit society than a four-month prison sentence, which would not have provided him with the necessary help to address his issues.

Earlier in January 2014, Dews appeared at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court in Huddersfield, where he admitted to making indecent images of children. The court heard that the offences occurred on or before July 3 in Mirfield, with a significant number of images classified at levels four and five, indicating serious content involving very young children, including a two-year-old.

District Judge Richard Manning committed Dews to Leeds Crown Court for sentencing, which was scheduled for February 6. As a result of his conviction, Dews is now required to register as a sex offender, reflecting the severity of his crimes and the ongoing legal consequences he faces.