DENNIS MOXON FROM STAFFORD AND WAKEFIELD JAILED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF HIS DAUGHTER

In October 2008, a man named Dennis Moxon, originally from Stafford and Wakefield, was sentenced to prison for the heinous sexual abuse of his own young daughter. The victim, now 24 years old, courageously chose to waive her right to anonymity to share her harrowing story and shed light on the years of suffering inflicted upon her by her father.

Dennis Moxon, aged 54 at the time, is a former soldier who also worked as a railway track inspector. His conviction followed a trial at Leeds Crown Court, where a jury found him guilty of four counts of sexual abuse against his daughter, who was a child at the time. The court's decision resulted in a four-year prison sentence for Moxon.

The victim recounted how her father, under the influence of alcohol, would touch her over her clothing between the ages of 11 and 13, after he and her mother had separated. She described her feelings of fear and confusion, explaining, “When he thought I was asleep was when he would start. I felt scared when it happened. He was my dad, I was confused. I didn’t understand what was going on.”

She revealed that she would stay at her father’s residence on Lawefield Lane in Wakefield every weekend, and the abuse continued until he remarried. In 2003, Moxon moved away from Wakefield to Stafford, but the memories of the abuse remain vivid in her mind. Her ordeal began when she was only 11 years old, and the molestation persisted until she was 13. Despite the severity of her experiences, she did not disclose the abuse to anyone until she was 22 years old.

Encouraged by her ex-partner, she finally decided to report the abuse to the authorities. She expressed her struggles with trust and her confusion over her father’s actions, stating, “Growing up, I found it hard to trust people. It was bugging me. I found it hard to understand how someone could do that to their own children.” She also shared how becoming a mother herself intensified her feelings and made her more protective of her children. Her primary motivation in speaking out was to help others come forward and seek justice, saying, “If my story helps other people to come forward and get convictions, then that’s what I want.”

At Leeds Crown Court, the victim was present to witness her father’s sentencing. She expressed relief that her story was now out in the open, allowing her to begin the process of moving on. “I feel happy it’s all out in the open. I can move on now. I want this to help others come forward. I would advise people to speak out, it’s not as hard as you think and it is worth it,” she said.

In sentencing, Judge Paul Hoffman emphasized the gravity of Moxon’s actions, stating, “Plainly you have committed a serious breach of trust.” The judge acknowledged the profound impact on the victim, noting that her childhood and ability to cope had been severely affected. Moxon was sentenced to four years in prison, placed under a sex offender’s prevention order, and banned from working with children for life.