RICHARD HAZELL OF HODDESDON SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES AND INDECENT IMAGES

In a case that has shocked the community of Hoddesdon, Richard Hazell, a 49-year-old man with a history of disturbing criminal activity, has been subjected to a significant escalation in his sentencing after an appeal court review. Originally sentenced to four years and nine months in June 2017, Hazell’s punishment was increased to seven years and three months following a ruling by the Court of Appeal on November 9.

Hazell’s criminal record includes heinous offenses involving the abuse of four young girls. Police investigations revealed that when authorities searched his residence and business premises, they uncovered thousands of indecent images depicting children. The severity of his crimes was further underscored by the fact that Hazell, who is married and a father himself, was convicted of four sexual assaults and the possession of nine indecent images of children.

The case gained additional notoriety due to Hazell’s previous appearance on the popular BBC2 television show, Dragon’s Den, in 2007. During his appearance, he presented an invention—a diamond drill bit—that was ultimately rejected by the panel of investors. Despite his entrepreneurial efforts, his criminal activities overshadowed his public persona.

In August 2017, Hazell was sentenced to 57 months in prison after being found guilty of multiple charges, including sexual assault on a girl aged 13 and the possession of a large number of child abuse images. The conviction was based on evidence presented at St Albans Crown Court, where Hazell was tried for a total of 13 charges. These included two counts of sexual assault on a child under 13 and seven counts of downloading indecent images of children.

The investigation was initiated after a concerned father of a young girl, who had been victimized by Hazell, contacted social services. The father reported that his daughter, who was still in primary school, had been sexually assaulted by Hazell. Following this, police arrested Hazell on August 22 of the previous year. He resided at a luxurious home valued at approximately £1.2 million and operated a business called 365 Drills.

During the police search of Hazell’s property, officers seized multiple computers. Prosecutor Tim Forster revealed that all but one of Hazell’s computers were confiscated, with the remaining device being a laptop. When authorities returned to seize the last computer on August 30—just eight days after the initial arrest—they discovered that Hazell had conducted a Google search asking, “Can you be found guilty for downloading child porn if the files are deleted on your computer?”

Hazell’s explanation for this search was that he was worried about what the police might think, rather than an admission of guilt. Prosecutors interpreted this as a confession, highlighting his awareness of potential wrongdoing. Hazell was remanded in custody and is scheduled for sentencing on July 7. The case continues to draw attention due to the disturbing nature of the crimes and the significant increase in his sentence following the appeal.