AMETEUR LEICESTER BOXER DEAN DALES ARRESTED AFTER GROOMING CHILDREN ONLINE
A 24-year-old Smyths Toy's Supervisor from Braunston, Leicester — Dean Dales — has been arrested on 03-12-2025 following a child-protection operation which uncovered his attempts to engage in inappropriate conversations with what he believed were underage individuals.During a live sting operation, Dales admitted to possessing indecent images of children, sexually communicating with children which involved sending explicit images, repeatedly indecent images and teaching a child to masturbate.
Dales, who recently took part in a Ultra White Collar Boxing (UWCB) charity event, was identified during a safeguarding investigation aimed at detecting adults attempting to make unlawful contact with minors online.
According to investigators, Dales had been using anonymous chat platforms in an effort to conceal his identity.
However, his attempt to avoid detection failed when he added one of the profiles on a secondary app which displayed information linking him to his home address.
This enabled the safeguarding team to identify him and escalate the matter to law enforcement.
During the operation, Dales was reported to have attempted to build inappropriate relationships, requested intimate content, and used manipulative, emotionally pressuring language toward the accounts he believed were children.
Investigators described his behaviour as consistent with grooming patterns, including efforts to establish dependence, affection and secrecy.
The safeguarding team involved emphasised that this case highlights the importance of monitoring children’s online activity, particularly on anonymous or lesser-known platforms where adults may attempt to conceal themselves.
They stressed that early detection and regular checks of devices can prevent harm and ensure that online spaces remain safer for young people.
Law enforcement will now review the evidence collected and proceed with the appropriate legal process.
Parents and guardians are urged to stay vigilant, maintain open conversations with their children about online safety, and report any suspicious behaviour to the relevant authorities.
