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David Hedley Northumbria Police/PA Wire
Newcastle
"Prolific" sex offender jailed after victim saw him on the street and identified him on Facebook
He appeared before Newcastle Crown Court where he was sentenced to serve 11 years in prison.
A “PROLIFIC” SEX offender was jailed today after one of his victims saw him on the street and identified him on Facebook.
20 year old David Hedley, who is from Newcastle in England, was arrested in March 2015 and charged with attempted rape, four counts of sexual assault by touching a female over the age of 13, one count sexual assault by touching a female under the age of 13, six counts of exposure and four counts of engaging in a sex act in the presence of a child.
His arrest came after he was spotted and identified.
Police set up an operation to catch Hedley after a worrying series of attacks on lone women and girls in the West End of Newcastle over a period of years.
He appeared before Newcastle Crown Court where he was sentenced to serve 11 years in prison.
Detective Chief Inspector Andy Fairlamb, said: “David Hedley is a prolific sexual offender who has targeted his offences at young girls in the West Denton area of Newcastle since October 2012.
It is clear that his offending behaviour would most likely have continued if he had not been apprehended by police. In this case the offending escalated from indecent exposure to sexual assault before he was stopped.
“The public deserve to be protected from him and the sentence handed down today will ensure he is no longer at liberty to re-offend.”
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