An ex-police officer, Dean Dempster, has been sentenced to jail for committing a despicable act of sexual assault against a girl under 10 years old. The incident occurred during a call to the girl’s home in Oldham in 2023 when Dempster, after turning off his body camera, sexually assaulted the young victim. Shockingly, he even took a photo of the abuse using his own phone. Reports of distress inside the residence led to a response from uniformed and other police officers. The 35-year-old officer then took the child to a room supposedly to question her, but instead, he molested her as revealed during a sentencing hearing at Liverpool Crown Court on November 13.
During the court proceedings, it was disclosed that Dempster had accessed websites showing a ‘sexual interest in children’ before the incident and had a history of searching for inappropriate content online. His inspector had previously received a complaint about sexual touching involving a child, leading to Dempster being placed on restricted duty and subsequently arrested. The investigation uncovered evidence, including deleted content from his personal phone and disturbing items found in his home.
A thorough search of Dempster’s residence unveiled a safe hidden in a wardrobe containing incriminating items such as phones, children’s clothing, shredded underwear, hard drives, and more. DNA evidence linked him to the sexual assault, and a vast collection of child exploitation images was discovered on his devices. The severity of his crimes was reflected in the sentencing, with Judge Stuart Driver KC handing Dempster a 14-year extended sentence, emphasizing the breach of public trust and the harm inflicted on a vulnerable child.
In response to this egregious misconduct, Deputy Chief Constable Terry Woods expressed anger and condemnation towards Dempster’s actions, emphasizing that such behaviour has no place within the police force. The Greater Manchester Police (GMP) promptly dismissed Dempster and reiterated their commitment to protecting children and upholding public trust. Despite the shocking nature of Dempster’s crimes, it serves as a reminder of the importance of robust vetting processes and vigilant monitoring within law enforcement agencies to prevent such heinous acts from occurring in the future.
In summary, the case of Dean Dempster highlights the grave consequences of abuse of power and the imperative need for stringent measures to safeguard vulnerable individuals from exploitation. The disturbing details of this case underscore the necessity for continuous vigilance and accountability within law enforcement agencies to maintain public trust and protect the most vulnerable members of society.