DARREN ASHTON SENTENCED IN MINEHEAD FOR CHILD SEXUAL OFFENCES LINKED TO PHILIPPINES

Darren Ashton, a resident of Minehead, has been handed a significant prison sentence after being found guilty of serious child sexual offences. The case came to light following a detailed investigation conducted by the National Crime Agency (NCA) in the Philippines during 2022. During this investigation, Ashton was identified as a British national who had been actively communicating with an individual in the Philippines, specifically requesting explicit images of young boys. The inquiry uncovered a disturbing pattern of behaviour spanning over a decade, from October 2010 to November 2022.

It was revealed that Ashton engaged in multiple illicit activities, including online communications with a 15-year-old boy via Skype. During these exchanges, he made inappropriate offers, including promising to pay the boy’s tuition fees if he performed certain acts on camera. The investigation also uncovered a troubling collection of indecent images of children—both still photographs and videos—stored across all 52 electronic devices seized from Ashton. These devices contained a significant amount of illegal material, highlighting the extent of his offending.

Throughout the legal proceedings, Ashton’s legal representative, Mr. Ahuja, emphasized that since his arrest in 2022, Ashton has taken steps to turn his life around. He reportedly moved away from his previous environment in Minehead to start afresh and has not engaged in any similar behaviour since his detention. Prior to these allegations, Ashton was considered to have a good character, and he has expressed remorse for his actions. He has also shown a willingness to seek professional help to address his issues.

During the sentencing hearing, Judge P Cook outlined the severity of Ashton’s crimes. He was sentenced to four years in prison for arranging or facilitating child sex offences. Additionally, he received a concurrent four-year sentence for inciting a child to engage in prostitution or pornography. A further nine months were added concurrently for possession of indecent images of children. The court’s decision reflects the gravity of Ashton’s offences and the ongoing concern over child exploitation crimes.