DOMINIC ONIONS FROM BOURNMOOR SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENSES AT FAMILY FUN DAY IN DURHAM

In August 2016, a disturbing incident unfolded at a family fun day held at a pub in Durham, where a man named Dominic Onions, aged 50 and residing in Marigold Crescent, Bournmoor, near Chester-le-Street, targeted a young boy just five years old. The court proceedings revealed that Onions had been lurking outside the men's toilets, seemingly searching for a vulnerable child to prey upon, as detailed by prosecutor Shaun Dodd during the hearing at Durham Crown Court.

According to the court, the young boy’s father was the first to realize something was amiss. He heard shuffling sounds coming from inside the cubicle and initially assumed that a father was helping his son use the toilet. However, his concern grew when he noticed his son’s unusual socks protruding from beneath the door, which led him to the horrifying realization that his child was inside with a stranger—Onions.

Further investigation through pub CCTV footage painted a disturbing picture. The footage showed Onions loitering around the toilet area, beckoning several children towards him in a predatory manner. Eventually, he launched a sickening assault on the young boy. One other child nearly fell victim to his manipulative tactics but managed to change his mind and ran away from the scene. Despite this, Onions persisted in his search for another child to abuse.

During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Onions had a prior history of sexual offenses against children, dating back to the 1980s. His defense acknowledged that he had made a conscious decision to commit abuse that day, indicating premeditation. When police arrested Onions, they discovered videos and photographs on his phone that confirmed he had previously assaulted another five-year-old boy on a separate occasion.

The mother of the second victim expressed her outrage in a statement read aloud in court, stating, “Words cannot describe what I think of you, you are not human. You are a dirty, filthy man who has got his kicks from my son. I hope you now feel that pain, you deserve all you get.” Her words reflected the profound pain and anger felt by the family.

Further details emerged about Onions’ interactions at the pub. It was reported that he had engaged in conversation with the mother of his first victim at the bar, all the while secretly plotting his next move to abuse a child. During his first court appearance, Onions displayed a smirk and laughed at the victim’s family, a gesture that deeply upset the young boy’s mother. She stated, “I feel sick and tortured by that you could do this to a child, an innocent little boy, my innocent little boy.” She also expressed her inability to let her child sleep out of her sight anymore, a consequence of the trauma inflicted.

It was also noted that Onions has a long-standing criminal record for sex offenses involving children. His convictions include indecent assault and gross indecency against a six-year-old boy in 1982, and another indecent assault against a five-year-old girl ten years later. His online activity further revealed an interest in news stories about children being sexually assaulted in public.

Onions pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including abducting a child with sexual intent, attempting to abduct a child, inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, engaging in a sexual act in front of a child, taking indecent photographs of a child, making indecent photographs of a child, four counts of sexual assault, and two counts of sexual activity with a child. He is scheduled to be sentenced at a later date. The court’s serious concern remains about his predatory behavior and the danger he poses to children in the community.