MANCHESTER MAN SENTENCED FOR UPLOADING CHILD ABUSE IMAGES AFTER INTERNATIONAL MANHUNT
Years after a paedophile's disturbing past was uncovered through an international manhunt, Dennis Van Gestel was finally apprehended.In 2020, he was located in a Wythenshawe residence where he was living as a lodger when police linked his IP address to the upload of disturbing child abuse images online.
After being questioned and released under investigation, he left Manchester for Belgium.
Nearly five years later, the 44-year-old was detained in his home country and brought back to the UK to face trial.
This followed the issuance of a European Arrest Warrant.
Prosecutor Kate Gaskell told the court that police had received information in May 2020 about several indecent images being uploaded.
The IP address associated with the uploads was traced to Van Gestel’s address, where he shared accommodation with two others.
During interviews, Van Gestel denied any involvement in uploading illegal images.
Investigations of his digital devices uncovered 185 indecent images, including 77 deemed the most serious category A.
He also sent nine messages, some repeated.
It was later found he had returned to Belgium, where he was arrested in March and then extradited to the UK six weeks later.
Defense attorney Hayley Bennett explained that Van Gestel was unaware he was wanted and had been unable to leave the UK legally due to restrictions.
She added he returned to Belgium after losing his UK job and struggling to find new employment.
Van Gestel, who previously attended rehab and is now sober from alcohol and drugs, pleaded guilty to multiple charges including distributing and making indecent images of children and possession of prohibited images.
Judge Paul Lawton sentenced him to 14 months in prison.
