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, travelled to the West Country with the intention of sexually abusing a child but got a nasty surprise.
Dugard was arrested on July 4, 2024, in Swindon, where he’d travelled to meet a girl who he thought was a child. Instead, he was met by police officers from the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU). He was snared as part of a proactive police sting operation led by the Online Investigations Team who had tricked the paedophile into showing his true colours.
Dugard initially 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 serious offences. This time his crimes had been 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.
On 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.
In her personal impact statement, the victim’s mother said: “It makes me so sad that [she] has been through this and I’m so sorry that I couldn’t protect her. The actions of this man have caused me to feel like I have let my daughter down massively and for that I am truly sorry. I am so proud of her and the fact that she has taken the big step of voicing her truths and telling the police what happened to her and take comfort in knowing that she can now find peace and start her healing process, knowing that the wrongs will be righted.
“[She] has made me very proud by speaking out and in knowing that she will have helped many others in doing so.”
Detective Inspector David Wells from SWROCU said: “Dugard has caused substantial suffering to the victim and her family and I thank her for speaking up about his predatory behaviour. He poses a significant risk to children and I welcome the sentence handed down to him today.”
The NSPCC website has clear and extensive advice for parents and carers, children and young people, and professionals to keeping safe online. If you have concerns about your own use of the internet or inappropriate thoughts or behaviour about children, or you are worried about how someone you know behaves, contact the Lucy Faithfull Foundation.