Sex offender convicted of committing 19 offences, some with a child

Dean Hearson was found guilty of indecent assaults involving a man and indecency with a child

A sex offender who committed a series of historic sex offences in Staffordshire dating back decades has been convicted. Dean Hearson, of Brown Edge, a village in the county, was put on trial charged with 15 counts of indecent assault on a male and four counts of indecency with a child.

The offences were reported to Staffordshire Police in 2018, but dated back to the 1990s and early 2000s. Once reported the Staffordshire force’s Rape and Serious Sexual Offences team launched an investigation.

The 55-year-old was found guilty of the 19 charges at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Wednesday (October 16). He has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life and given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

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Detective Constable Diane Sproston and Investigative Officer Janine Shropshire, of Staffordshire Police's Rape and Serious Sexual Offences team, said: “We would like to express our gratitude for the bravery of the victims who came forward and gave evidence, including during the trial. We don’t underestimate how difficult this was.

“If you have experienced child sexual abuse, you will be believed. You will be treated with respect, compassion and empathy and you will be supported by specialist detectives.” Hearson will be sentenced for his crimes at a later date.