A CONVICTED SEX OFFENDER WAS CAUGHT WITH A COLLECTION OF CHILD ABUSE IMAGES WHEN HE TRIED TO TRADE HIS PHONE AT A SECOND-HAND GOODS STORE.
2026-06-26 11:16: A convicted sex offender has been returned to prison after violating his court restrictions by deleting more than 14,000 internet search records and viewing a disturbing sexual image involving two young boys.Dean Moore received a three-year sentence in 2023 following the discovery of a photograph of a minor being sexually abused on his phone by a shop employee.
As previously reported by Chroniclelive, Moore had left his mobile device at a store similar to a pawnbroker to obtain a cash loan.
When he failed to retrieve it, the shop took possession and began deleting data, only to find an image depicting the sexual abuse of a young boy, leading to police involvement.
On that device and another, authorities found 22 highly illegal Category A images, 44 Category B images, and three Category C images.
In 2022, the National Crime Agency forwarded a report to police regarding online communications between Moore and an undercover officer, during which discussions about child sexual abuse occurred.
At Newcastle Crown Court, it was revealed that Moore had "expressed a sexual interest in boys under 13" and admitted to trading pictures of a ten-year-old boy performing sexual acts.
A search of his residence uncovered 1,760 Category A images, 885 Category B images, and 1,970 Category C images stored on his phone and cloud services.
One account contained indecent images of infants under six months being sexually exploited.
With prior convictions for similar offenses, Moore pleaded guilty to possessing indecent images and extreme pornography involving a dog.
He was sentenced to three years in prison.
Additionally, he was subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), which prohibited him from communicating with minors under 18 and from deleting his internet browsing history.
Nonetheless, Moore, residing on Cook Close in South Shields, demonstrated persistent inability to control his unlawful sexual interests.
Earlier this year, police seized two of his mobile phones, discovering that he had erased over 14,000 web search entries and engaged in chats with a child on TikTok, as the court was informed.
An indecent image of two boys aged approximately seven to nine was also recovered from one device.
During police interviews, Moore admitted to sending a sexual image of his genitals via Snapchat, though there was no evidence suggesting it was sent to a minor.
He has now been sentenced to 24 months in prison after pleading guilty to four charges, including breaching the SHPO, intentionally sending a lewd photo, and creating an indecent image of a child.
Miss Kaur stated: "Two mobile phones, a Motorola and a Samsung, were confiscated.
The Motorola previously had Snapchat installed, but it was removed at the time of analysis.
Back in January, 7,075 web search entries had been deleted, although it’s unclear when or by whom." The court also learned that the indecent image of the boys was found on the Motorola device, with an additional 7,485 deleted search records on the Samsung phone.
Miss Kaur added: "During the interview on January 29, the defendant confirmed he had a Snapchat account called DeanoMac2026.
He stated he had sent a picture of his genitals to that account but was unsure whether it was sent to a minor." Furthermore, Moore acknowledged creating a TikTok account and communicating with a person under 18, though he denied any sexual intent.
It was noted that Moore has a record of 14 offenses dating back to 2019, with his most recent appearance in court in 2025 for failing to comply with sex offender notification requirements.
Defense lawyer John Wilkinson argued that Moore suffers from anxiety and depression and was aware of the likelihood of imprisonment.
He remarked: "The defendant has pleaded guilty to all charges.
Some might say that this is the best, and perhaps only, mitigation in this case." Addressing the court, Judge Carolyn Scott sentenced Moore to 24 months in prison, expressing the view that he cannot be rehabilitated within the community.
She emphasised: "These breaches are extremely serious.
Your Sexual Harm Prevention Order is in place to prevent harm, yet you disregarded it and violated your obligations." Moore, already under an indefinite SHPO, is also required to register as a sex offender for ten years.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2025-08-27 15:28: Dean Moore, aged 28, was found to have illegal images stored on a Samsung phone that he had attempted to sell for money in 2020.
It was disclosed during Newcastle Crown Court proceedings that nearly two years later, Moore was discovered to possess another collection of such images on the same device.
Prosecutor Emma Hughes described how Moore traded the phone with a local seller working for a company similar to a pawnbroker.
Authorities revealed that the phone contained 22 images classified as Category A, along with 44 in Category B and three in Category C.
After being alerted and the device being confiscated, police further investigated.
In 2022, the National Crime Agency raised concerns about Moore’s online activities, prompting further law enforcement inquiries.
Miss Hughes explained that discussions about child sexual abuse were found online, with Moore’s username “Dean2017” expressing a sexual interest in boys under 13.
Northumbria Police officers attended Moore’s home, where he was detained under caution.
Additional devices, including a Samsung Galaxy phone, two Mega storage accounts, and a Dropbox account, were analysed.
The subsequent review uncovered an additional 1,760 category A images, 855 category B images, and 1,970 category C images, along with an image of an animal.
Moore, residing at Richardson Road in South Shields, pleaded guilty to possessing three indecent images of children, creating three indecent images, possessing extreme pornography, and breaching a suspended sentence from 2019 for similar offenses.
Judge Robert Spragg sentenced him to three years in prison.
During mitigation, Fiona Lamb stated that Moore had previously worked in a car parts manufacturing factory.
She pointed out that the defendant was 28 years old, had no prior convictions, and had pledged guilty to all charges, which allowed for full credit for his plea.
Lamb also mentioned his supportive parents.
