PENRITH PAEDOPHILE TOLD PROBATION STAFF HE 'DID NOT NEED TO CHANGE'
A PENRITH pensioner whose sexual interest in children was exposed by a police sting told probation staff who tried to rehabilitate him he needed to change nothing.David Dixon, 67, treated the staff involved with disrespect and behaved like a “saboteur” while taking a rehabilitation course.
At Carlisle Crown Court, a judge told the defendant that the three year community order he was given to change his behaviour may need to be replaced with a jail term.
Prosecutor Tim Evans outlined the original crime which led to the community order being imposed.
It was an offence of attempting to sexually communicate with a child – a person who unbeknown to the defendant was an undercover police officer.
In 2023, Dixon, from Clifford Close, Penrith, sent the person "numerous messages", saying he wanted to engage in various sex acts with the “teenager,” explained Mr Evans.
He had no idea the contact was a police officer.
Mr Evans then outlined how Dixon behaved while enrolled on the Probation Service’s Building Choices Programme, during which professionals seek to challenge deviant behaviour.
"In a sense, he sought to be a saboteur," said Evans, summarising the defendant's attitude while taking the course.
Dixon told staff the course was something he simply “wanted to get out of the way.” Mr Evans said: “He said there was nothing he needed to change” and described the contents of the course as “bollocks.” “He repeatedly stated that he gained nothing from it,” said Mr Evans.
On one occasion, when he heard two members of staff agree about the need to challenge his behaviour, he made a rude comment, and described the staff as "bull***ters." Mr Evans continued: “All sorts of assistance was provided to this defendant to try to get him through the course.
“For example, there was a special parking arrangement so that he could be just 210 yards away from the venue where the course was being held.” Dixon refused to engage in discussions and was hostile and dismissive about other prospective group members.
There was no willingness on Dixon’s part to take part constructively.
Mr Evans challenged the suggestion that Dixon could be given additional rehabilitation activity days.
He added: “The concern is that he [the defendant] thinks he knows better than the probation staff and the sentencing court which gave him this chance.” Judge Nicholas Barker ruled that there will need to be a further hearing to determine whether there is a sufficient prospect of rehabilitating Dixon in a community setting, or whether he should be jailed.
The judge adjourned the case until March 27, telling the defendant: “There are important decisions to be made.
You must understand that one of the options could be a custodial sentence.”
