A man who threw his phones out of the window when police turned up has been jailed. David Hulse, 38, was sentenced to 15 years in prison at Minshull Street Crown Court after pleading guilty to a string of sexual offences against children.
Phones recovered despite attempt to evade justice
Officers had a warrant to check Hulse's devices as part of an investigation into indecent images back in March. Greater Manchester Police recovered the mobile phones, before discovering a number of indecent images of children on them.
It was discovered that Hulse had been using online messaging services to strike up a friendship with four young girls, before coercing them into sending sexual images. Hulse initially denied the allegations and provided 'no comment' to police when questioned at interview.
Victims' families speak out
Prior to his sentencing on Tuesday (October 20), the mother of one of the survivors said: "What has been particularly difficult is that she has struggled to understand why this happened to her and has, at times, felt that she is somehow to blame."
"We have had to continually reassure her that she was not responsible for another person's actions or for the choices they made. When guilty pleas were eventually entered, there was some relief that she would not have to go through that [the court] process, but the uncertainty and stress leading up to that point had already taken its toll."
"We hope that, in time, she and our family will be able to move forward from what happened. However, the impact has been significant, and the emotional consequences of what happened will remain with us for a long time."
The mum of another victim added: "When you have a daughter, your primary duty is to protect her childhood, her innocence, and her belief that the world is safe. David Hulse deliberately took advantage of her innocence for his own sexual gratification. While this legal process is concluding, the harm caused to her and the memories of this ordeal will stay with us for the rest of our lives."
Sentencing and police response
Hulse, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to two counts of engaging in sexual communication with a child, two counts of causing/inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity, six counts of making an indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child, two counts of possessing extreme pornographic images portraying an act of intercourse, and four counts of distributing an indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child.
He was sentenced to 15 years in prison, with an extended three years on licence, and given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order. GMP says the sentencing was the result of a 'complex investigation'.
Detective Constable Daryl Gray, of GMP's City of Manchester Criminal Investigation Department, said: "Hulse used messaging platforms to strike up a friendship with these young girls to gain their trust before using their vulnerability to coerce them into sharing sexual images."
"No parent should have to go through what Hulse has subjected these survivors to and I commend the entire families' bravery throughout this investigation – the support they have given these young girls but also the way they have maintained courage in the face of the evil that is David Hulse."
"I hope that this sentence gives the families an element of hope that Hulse is now behind bars, and they can start to put this chapter behind them. Hulse belongs in the past and the families can now look towards a future together without this person in their lives."
"Our officers are here to support anyone who has been a victim of sexual abuse, no matter when it happened. Please come forward. We will listen. We will support you and we will do all that we can to bring these offenders to justice."
