Prolific Dorset paedophile guilty of sexually abusing children in the Philippines

The court heard how David Shepherd, 60 and of Bridport, would fly to the Philippines and record himself committing serious sexual offences, including rape, against young children. Shepherd also paid for and directed live shows over the internet in which children as young as 17-months old were sexually abused. He was also found with a large collection of movies that he had produced, and tens of thousands of indecent images and videos of children on his computer and hard drives that he had downloaded.

Such was his offending, the case was split into three trials. The first dealt with him arranging and facilitating child sex offences after which he flew to the Philippines to rape and abuse children. The second related to possessing indecent images and videos and the third for arranging and facilitating child sex offences over the internet and the producing of indecent movies and images of children. The hearings were subject to reporting restrictions, which were lifted following the conclusion of the third case.

Following a trial that finished on Wednesday 3 August 2016 he was found guilty of 22 counts of sexual offences against children including rape, attempted rape, assault by penetration, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, arranging or facilitating commission of a child sex offence, taking indecent photographs of a child, producing indecent movies of children and paying for sexual services of a child.

The following day Shepherd pleaded guilty to possessing 20,207 indecent images and videos of children.

At a hearing at Dorchester Crown Court on Monday, 8 August, Shepherd pleaded guilty to 10 counts of arranging and facilitating a child sex offence – which involved around 100 videos – and two counts of making indecent images of children.

He is due to be sentenced at the same court on Wednesday 31 August.

Shepherd was arrested on Tuesday 10 November 2015 at the Loders Arms pub near Bridport where he had been landlord for the previous six months, following a detailed investigation led by Dorset Police’s Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT).

The team launched an extensive examination of his computers and digital storage devices that uncovered thousands of indecent images and videos of children. It revealed the full extent of his offending had been going on since 2007.

POLIT delved deeper into his offending and found that he had travelled to the Philippines and sexually abused four girls under the age of 13 years. A number of movies that were located on his devices clearly showed Shepherd abusing these children.

Further examinations revealed that Shepherd also used Yahoo messenger when he was in the UK to contact other paedophiles in the Philippines and direct at least 76 live sex shows involving Philippino children.

The court heard that during police interviews Shepherd denied visiting and meeting the children in the Philippines, despite evidence including videos of him abusing children, travel tickets and financial records indicating otherwise.

Detective Constable David Baker, of Dorset Police’s POLIT, said: “This is the most horrific case of child abuse I have had any dealings with.

“David Shepherd is an individual who presents a serious risk and danger to young children. For many years he has used the internet to commission live sexual abuse which he recorded.

“Such was Shepherd’s arrogance of his offending he pleaded not guilty despite the overwhelming visual evidence against him. This evidence showed harrowing images of very young children being abused and degraded in the most vile manner. The jury in the first trial saw through his lies and their verdict has gone a long way to prevent innocent children being harmed by Shepherd again. I would like to take the time to thank the jury for remaining strong throughout the trial, during which they had to endure watching videos of Shepherd abusing young children.

“My final message to those involved in the abuse of children on the internet in the UK or oversees or those who choose to download and share indecent images of children is that your activity will be discovered, you will be arrested and you will be brought to justice regardless of where your offending takes place. International borders do not exist when it comes to the sexual abuse of children.”

POST UPDATED ON 31 AUGUST 2016: David Shepherd was given a life sentence of 28 years in prison at Dorchester Crown Court on 31 August 2016.

 

Report Child Abuse:

Dorset Police: For non-urgent reports, or to make an enquiry, please go to www.dorset.police.uk and follow the ‘Do it online’ function. Here you can pass all the details of your concerns to us via the online enquiry form. You can also email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or call 101. If you believe a child is in immediate danger please dial 999.

Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111

Local Authority Children’s Social Care:

• Bournemouth: 01202 456900
• Poole: 01202 735046
• Dorset: http://www.dorsetforyou.com/393713

You can also report directly to the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) www.ceop.police.uk

For more information visit:

• Child Online Safety Advice: https://www.dorset.police.uk/help-advice-crime-prevention/crime-prevention-help-advice/cyber-crime/child-online-safety/
• NWG http://www.nwgnetwork.org/
• Barnardos http://www.barnardos.org.uk
• NSPCC 0808 800 5000, help@nspcc.org.uk, www.nspcc.org.uk/childsexualexploitation
• National Helpline for male victims of CSE 07808 863 662
• UK safer internet centre website. www.saferinternet.org.uk
• CEOP resources suitable for parents and children of different ages: www.thinkuknow.co.uk
• Concerned about your thoughts or behaviour? Visit: www.stopitnow.org.uk
• Child Online Safety: www.internetmatters.org