DALE MOSELING CAUGHT IN UCKFIELD SEX MESSAGES SCANDAL

In March 2021, Dale Moseling faced a court hearing in connection with disturbing online communications involving a paedophile hunting group. The incident unfolded when Moseling, 25 years old and formerly residing on The Drive in Uckfield, engaged with a fake social media profile created by the group 'Defending the Innocent'.

These groups often set up decoy accounts to catch individuals attempting to contact minors, and in this case, the profile was designed to appear as a 13-year-old girl named Jodie. Moseling initiated contact with this fake account, expressing a desire to meet the girl in a hotel located in Uckfield. His communication included inappropriate messages, and he suggested a physical meeting, which raised serious concerns about his intentions.

During police interrogation, Moseling denied any plans to meet the girl for sexual purposes or having exchanged explicit messages. However, at Hove Crown Court, he ultimately admitted to one count of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a minor, acknowledging his inappropriate conduct.

Prosecutor Heather Stangoe detailed that Moseling was initially arrested in October 2018 in relation to this offence. It was revealed that he had made crude sexual requests to the fictitious 13-year-old girl and, inappropriately, appeared to be pleasuring himself during the exchanges. Furthermore, he attempted to silence the girl by instructing her not to disclose the conversations on WhatsApp, indicating an awareness of the illicit nature of his actions.

During the hearing, His Honour Judge Stephen Mooney questioned whether the paedophile hunters' group had in any way incited the crime. The judge acknowledged that such groups can sometimes target vulnerable individuals, potentially leading to offences like this. Nonetheless, Ms. Stangoe clarified that the fake profile was inactive prior to Moseling's contact, and he was the one who initiated the communication.

Judge Mooney reflected on the lengthy legal process, noting that it had taken over two years for the case to reach court. He described Moseling as a “deeply inadequate young man” and emphasized the importance of rehabilitation. As part of his sentence, Moseling was ordered to work with the probation service and complete 35 sessions aimed at addressing his behaviour.

The judge warned Moseling that the choices he made were his own, despite the influence of the online setup. He stressed that failure to comply with the rehabilitation plan could result in a return to court and potential imprisonment. The court’s intervention was intended to serve as a corrective measure, with the judge urging Moseling not to dismiss the opportunity for change, warning that ignoring these efforts could lead to serious consequences in the future.