PC jailed for sexually assaulting girl on duty and putting her face over child abuse footage

A police officer who attacked a defenseless teenage girl and put her face over images of child abuse while on duty has been jailed for nine years.

Dean Dempster, 35, then a response officer with Oldham-based Greater Manchester Police (GMP), sexually touched the child while responding to a disturbance in Oldham on December 29, 2023.

Following an argument over an official complaint against him, he was arrested at work the next day, and his personal and work phones were confiscated.

It was later revealed that Dempster had deleted some material and applications from his personal mobile phone before his arrest that morning.

During the search of his home, many items were seized, including another iPhone, four double-folded packages of children’s underwear, shredded underwear in a bag, a video disk and two hard drives.

Dempster’s mobile phone and iPad were found to contain 104 indecent images of children, classed as category A (the most serious); These include 30 fake images of this level, 440 category B images, including 129 fake images, and 2,472 category C images. 39 fake images.

Multiple fake images were superimposed to depict Dempster with children.

Examination of his devices revealed that Dempster downloaded indecent images of children from December 15, 2021, to December 29, 2023.

Further analysis of internet usage revealed that Dempster was searching for children’s feet, and in December 2023, websites containing content featuring children’s feet were accessed.

Dempster was dismissed by GMP following an expedited misconduct hearing in May 2024.

He had previously pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault on a child under 13, six counts of making indecent images of children and two counts of misconduct in public office.

The prosecution follows an investigation by GMP’s Professional Standards Directorate, directed by the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

At Liverpool Crown Court today Dempster was sentenced to nine years in prison and must sign the sex offenders register for life.

Malcolm McHaffie, Head of the Special Crime Branch of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Dean Dempster’s actions were disgusting and he betrayed the trust placed in him as a serving police officer.

“The sexual assault occurred while on duty and there is no doubt that the victim was deeply affected by being targeted by someone in authority.

“Subsequent searches of Dempster’s devices and home address revealed even more deplorable crimes, and he is now facing the consequences of his actions.

“The Crown Prosecution Service will not hesitate to bring charges against those who abuse their position and target young people in such a reprehensible way.”