A riding instructor has been convicted and sentenced to a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order after committing crimes against minors.
Mitchell Hickey engaged in sexual abuse involving two young girls, including striking one with a whip, and pressured a third girl into sending explicit images.
Between 2017 and 2019, Hickey targeted the girls with multiple assaults and sent them indecent videos through Snapchat, a platform known for its message deletion feature after being viewed.
The authorities were alerted in January 2022 when a former member of the riding school, located near Tunbridge Wells, expressed concern for other vulnerable girls under Hickey’s supervision.
Following his arrest and a detailed investigation that examined his electronic devices, Hickey was charged with nine sexual offenses, including sexual assault, engaging in sexual activity with a minor, and sending sexual communications to a child.
Initially denying the allegations, the 25-year-old later admitted guilt to seven of the charges during proceedings at Maidstone Crown Court.
On Monday, 22 September, Hickey was sentenced to three years and four months in prison.
DC Amy Mulrey, who led the investigation, stated: "Hickey abused his position of power to take advantage of young and vulnerable girls for his own gratification.
‘It is a rare instance in which an offender is made the subject of a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which shows the seriousness of Hickey’s offending.
‘He acted with little thought to the impact of his actions on the mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing of his victims.
‘We are grateful for the support of the victims and their families, and hope that the custodial sentence offers some comfort."
This is a probabilistic continent or country-group signal from public name datasets. It is not proof of nationality, ethnicity or personal background.
Likely region signal
UK
Country
from United States
- based on first name
45.1%
confidence
First-name region
UK
United States
45.1%
Surname region
Europe
Ireland
41.6%
Court Outcome
Conviction and Sentencing Details
Sentenced
Detected legal outcome
ter admitted guilt to seven of the charges during proceedings at Maidstone Crown Court. On Monday, 22 September, Hickey was sentenced to three years and four months in prison. DC Amy Mulrey, who led the investigation, stated: "Hickey abu...
Court order
A riding instructor has been convicted and sentenced to a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order after committing crimes against minors
Prison sentence
three years and four months
On Monday, 22 September, Hickey was sentenced to three years and four months in prison
Court order
DC Amy Mulrey, who led the investigation, stated: "Hickey abused his position of power to take advantage of young and vulnerable girls for his own gratification. 'It is a rare instance in which an offender is made the subject of a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which shows the seriousness of Hickey's offending. 'He acted with little thought to the impact of his actions on the mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing of his victims. 'We are grateful for the support of the victims and their families, and hope that the custodial sentence offers some comfort."
