A community DJ in his 70s was jailed for 45 months on Friday, February 3, 2023 after travelling from Sheffield to Bedford intending to have sex with a 9-year-old girl and her step-father.
Stephen Dennis, now 72, had taken Viagra before parking at Bedford railway station long stay car park.
Luton Crown Court heard he had six pairs of girls’ knickers with him as he made his way to Starbucks where he expected to meet a man called Gary and his young step-daughter Freyer.
But the paedophile was caught in a police trap and was arrested.
He told the officers: “I knew this was wrong. I will never do it again. It was an impulse.” Dennis of Frederick Drive, Grenoside, Sheffield appeared at Luton Crown Court having pleaded guilty to arranging the commission of a child sex offence.
Prosecutor Andrew Howarth said Dennis first made contact with an undercover police officer who posed as Gary on the Adult Friend Finder website on November 1, 2022.
Dennis who called himself ‘Naughty Boy 9007’ talked about Gary’s fictitious step-daughter called Freya saying his “Loved Daughter Daddy fun.”
Gary told him he had been abusing her since she was aged seven.
“During the conversations the defendant made it clear he was interested in sexual penetrative activity with the girl and Gary.
“The defendant was a DJ on Community radio and said he would give them a shout out.”
At one stage Dennis got cold feet and said he would not be coming to Bedford, but he changed his mind and set off on November 11.
The girl’s mother was going to be out and she would be off school with a high temperature. He was arrested at 9.30am. Dennis made full admissions to the police. He was of previous good character.
Defending, Alex Benn said: “He has never been in trouble before. It is clearly a very ugly case.”
He went on: “He has lived a positive life. He was a hard working member of the community.
“He has consistently volunteered, has been a director of a sailing club and worked for an animal rescue charity.
“He is remorseful and committed to change. He is deeply ashamed about way the way he behaved.”
He said Dennis had medical problems including prostate cancer and diabetes.
He had suffered a heart attack in 2016.
Jailing him, Judge Alan Blake said he had a productive work life since 1969 and had contributed to the community in charity work, on community radio and helping at local clubs.
He went on: “What you did in corresponding with the officer using the pseudonym Gary was profoundly distressing and disturbing. It revealed a very dark side to your personality.”
Dennis must register as a Sex Offender and abide by the terms of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life.
Sign up to get your own daily update of Bedfordshire News — It’s free.
