Seaford man jailed for travelling abroad to sexually abuse children

David Mould used an encrypted site on the dark web to coach others on how to groom victims

David Mould
Author: Vanessa BellringerPublished 23rd Jun 2023

A child sex offender from Seaford, who was known as a global influencer on the dark web, has been jailed for 21 years.

David Mould admitted travelling to Nepal and the Philippines to sexually abuse and exploit children between 2018 and 2019.

The 68-year-old also coached others on how to groom victims on an encrypted website.

After admitting 24 offences, Mould was sentenced to 21 years imprisonment with an extended licence of seven years at Lewes Crown Court.

He has also been banned from travelling to 22 countries as part of his five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, was issued a restraining order and will have to sign the sex offender register.

Jeanette Smith, Specialist Prosecutor of the CPS’ Organised Child Sexual Abuse Unit, said:

“David Mould travelled to the Philippines and Nepal, where he targeted vulnerable children, exploiting and manipulating them, to sexually abuse them.

“Not content with satisfying his own sexual desires, he used the dark web to advise and encourage other paedophiles how they might best commit equally horrific crimes.

“Mould sought to evade detection, using the dark web and encryption software, but the National Crime Agency investigation uncovered his activity, and their intervention brought an end to it.

“Our Organised Child Sexual Abuse Unit was set up in April 2022 to prosecute offenders who engage in child sexual abuse.

“This case highlights that predatory paedophiles who conduct their activity in different parts of the globe will be pursued by UK law enforcement and prosecuted by the CPS.

“Stopping the worldwide sexual exploitation of children and the use of the internet to disseminate abuse is an absolute priority.”

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