Former Halstead man Dean Carey jailed for 40 months

Jailing 52-year-old Dean Carey, Judge Richard Kelly,  described him as a dangerous offender with an “entrenched pattern of predatory behaviour towards children”.

Carey, of Foxhall Road, Ipswich, but formerly of Halstead, admitted attempted sexual communication with a child and attempted breach of a sexual harm prevention order.

In addition to being jailed he was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order and ordered to sign the sex offenders' register.

The court heard that Carey’s previous convictions included making indecent images of children in 2016 and breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

Dean Carey, 52, has been jailed for 40 months (Image: Essex Police)

In 2020 he was jailed for four years with an extended licence period of six years for inciting a male under 16 to engage in sexual activity, sexual communication with a child and possessing indecent images of children.

The court heard he was released from custody in September last year, just four months before his latest offending. Following his arrest he was recalled to prison with a release date of 2029.

Ipswich Crown Court heard on Friday, May 17, that Carey had made contact with an undercover police officer posing as a 14-year-old boy on Grindr earlier this year.

Carey had suggested moving their chat to WhatsApp and had then ended contact with the boy saying: I would if I could, but I can’t. Sorry”.

Several weeks later Carey had made contact with the undercover police officer posing as the boy again and the conversation had quickly turned sexual.

Carey had sent the boy a naked picture of himself and asked him to send him a picture of him in his underwear and school uniform.

He had also discussed meeting up with the boy, but no plans were made.