SEAN DEMPSTER

Today, a man who collected and stored a vast collection of indecent images of children was sentenced to prison.

Sean Dempster, residing on Welland Road in Lincoln, appeared in court at Lincoln Crown and was sentenced to three years imprisonment.

The case emerged after a referral indicated that a user of a Sony PlayStation account had uploaded a Category C indecent image of a child.

Police arrested Dempster on 21 May 2024 on suspicion of distributing such images.

His mobile phone was examined, revealing more than 20,000 indecent images of children in categories A, B, and C.

Further digital evidence such as chat logs from Telegram and KIK showed that Dempster not only downloaded and saved indecent images but also shared videos and images with other users.

Messages indicated he was encouraging children to engage in sexual acts and conversing with them in a sexual manner.

Another investigation linked a private Instagram chat to Dempster, where Category A videos of children were sent, even while he was on bail.

During a search of his property, officers recovered a new phone and an iPad that he attempted to hide under a pillow.

These devices contained additional illicit content, including over 5,200 more indecent images and prohibited images.

Overall, authorities found that Dempster practically amassed over 20,000 indecent images and circulated approximately 340 of these online.

While in custody, he was charged with multiple offences, including making indecent images, with the case progressing to court.

He was sentenced today to 30 months for possession and distribution of Category A images—the most severe type.

Other concurrent sentences included nine months for Category B images, three months for Category C images, and 24 months for inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

He was also sentenced to six months for creating Category A images, with similar concurrent sentences for Category B, Category C, and prohibited images.

Dempster is set to be added to the Sex Offenders’ Register, will face a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), and has a lifelong notification requirement imposed on him.