Locations
Park Drive, Grimsby, Lincolnshire, DN32
Description
A 60-year-old man has been sentenced to four years in prison after being convicted of nine child sexual abuse offences.
Anthony Dugard, of Park Drive in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, was sentenced at Swindon Crown Court on Friday (22 November), following an investigation carried out by the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU).
Dugard was arrested on 4 July 2024 in Swindon where he’d travelled to meet who he thought was a child with the intention of abusing them. Instead, he was met by SWROCU officers.
Dugard was arrested as part of a proactive police operation led by the Online Investigations Team at the SWROCU. This team works alongside a national network of officers tackling offences online, including child sexual abuse and exploitation.
Dugard pleaded guilty to four child sex offences and was remanded in custody.
Following his remand and upon examination of his mobile telephone, officers became aware of further offences committed against a real child.
The child, who was only 15 years old when she was abused by Dugard, was able to provide evidence that he had coerced and exploited her over a period of several months. Dugard was charged and subsequently pleaded guilty to a further five child sexual abuse offences.
Whilst handing him his sentence, Judge JN Townsend told the court: “I pay tribute to the victim in this case to her engagement to the Criminal Justice Process in bringing Mr Dugard to justice.” Dugard will also be on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life and be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 15 years.