Man jailed for sexual offences against boys in Suffolk and Essex
An investigation was launched by Essex Police in 2019.
A 36-year-old man from Essex has been sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment with an extended licence period of four years for sexual offences against boys.
Darren Hornsby, of Spring Road in Clacton-on-Sea, was sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court last Thursday, 5 December 2024. He was also made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for life and ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.
An investigation against Hornsby was launched by Essex Police in 2019 following intelligence regarding online activity involving indecent images at an address he was residing at.
On 28 February 2019, a search warrant was carried out at the premises. A number of electronic devices belonging to Hornsby were seized and found to contain indecent images of children:
- 68 category A images and 26 videos
- 172 category B images and 41 videos
- 250 category C images and 4 videos
A video was identified by Essex Police of a male child aged between 5 and 7 years being sexually abused; only the hands of the abuser could be seen. The OIC, Detective Constable Emma Edwards, suspected the abuser in this video was Hornsby. Due to this officers enlisted the help of a forensic hand expert, Dame Professor Sue Black, who carried out a comparison.
On 14 April 2021, Hornsby was charged with six counts of making indecent images of children, one count of taking indecent images of a child and one count of sexual assault with penetration of a boy under the age of 13.
Hornsby pleaded guilty to the six counts of making indecent images of children, however denied taking an indecent image of a child and the sexual assault.
Dame Professor Sue Black gave her evidence in court which assisted the jury to guilty pleas on both counts in less than an hour, heard in November 2024.
On 4 June 2023 a report was made to Suffolk Constabulary relating to sexual assaults on boys at an address in Trimley St Martin.
These offences took place on 1 and 2 June 2023 and involved two boys in their early teens.
Enquiries established that Hornsby had befriended the boys several months before and had invited them to the address in Trimley.
Hornsby was arrested, charged and remanded in relation to the sexual offences. He initially denied these but pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault on a male and two counts of inciting a boy aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity without consent, on the second day of trial.
Hornsby was sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment for the offences in Essex and six years’ imprisonment for the offences in Suffolk. These are to be served consecutively, bringing his total jail term to 15-years, as well as four years on extended licence.
DC Laura Frelford, who was the investigating officer at Suffolk Constabulary, said: “Hornsby demonstrated predatory behaviour. He purposefully befriended the young boys, using alcohol with the intention to manipulate and sexually abuse them when they were vulnerable.
“I would like to commend their bravery in reporting Hornsby. They have shown great courage in supporting the investigation and I hope the result will bring some measure of closure, knowing that this conviction has broken Hornsby’s cycle of offending.”
Detective Emma Edwards of Essex Police said: “To this day the child has not been identified and Hornsby has never told anyone the identity of this child.
“The judge made a point of this in the sentencing as this child may never be afforded the support that they rightly deserve.
“Dame Professor Black’s work to identify Hornsby in the video was crucial in making sure their abuser was brought to justice, and I’d like to thank her for her vital work.”