DEAN FIELDSEND: HORRIFIC CHILD PORNOGRAPHY DISCOVERY IN HULL

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Hull, authorities uncovered a significant cache of illegal images involving children, linked to convicted sex offender Dean Fieldsend. The investigation revealed that Fieldsend, aged 40 and residing on Story Street, had amassed an extensive collection of over 2,000 illicit images depicting minors. The discovery was made after police executed a search at his home, where they found his laptop concealed behind a bath panel, raising suspicions about his attempts to hide evidence of his criminal activities.

Fieldsend’s criminal history is well-documented, with prior convictions related to similar offenses. Despite being subject to a sexual harm prevention order, he continued to access the dark web, a hidden part of the internet often used to evade detection. During the police inquiry on February 20 of the previous year, he admitted to having a concealed laptop, which was subsequently confiscated. The seized device contained a horrifying collection of indecent images, categorized into various levels of severity. Specifically, there were 298 images classified as Category A, indicating the most severe abuse, 459 in Category B, and 1,252 in Category C. Additionally, authorities found 400 images that were explicitly prohibited by law.

These images depicted sexual acts involving children aged between 18 months and nine years, with both boys and girls being victims. The browser history on the laptop revealed that Fieldsend had made concerted efforts to encrypt and anonymize his browsing activity, using specialized software 31 times to access the dark web. This indicates a deliberate attempt to conceal his illicit activities from law enforcement.

Further complicating the case, a mobile phone found near the scene appeared to have been deliberately melted, likely in an effort to destroy evidence. Unfortunately, forensic analysis was unable to recover any data from the device. Fieldsend’s breaches extended beyond possession; he had previously violated court orders by creating indecent images of children, breaching a sexual harm prevention order, and possessing prohibited images. His criminal record prior to this incident includes nine offenses spanning from 2015 to 2019, involving making indecent images, failing to register as a sex offender, and multiple breaches of court mandates.

Fieldsend pleaded guilty to all charges, and the court sentenced him to two years in prison. Additionally, he was subjected to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and mandated to register as a sex offender for the same period. Judge Alexander Menary underscored the gravity of the case, highlighting Fieldsend’s previous convictions and his calculated efforts to conceal his activities. The judge expressed concern about the potential risk of physical contact with children, emphasizing that Fieldsend’s actions demonstrated a high likelihood of causing serious harm. The court’s verdict reflected the seriousness of the offenses and the need to protect the community from further harm.