Lauren O’Hanlon

A couple from Hampshire has been imprisoned for a combined total of 24 years after committing horrific sexual abuse against a young child. James Hedges, 36, of Cumberland Avenue in Basingstoke, and Lauren O’Hanlon, 28, of no fixed address, carried out multiple assaults on the boy at an address in Ash, Surrey, during November 2017.

The offences were uncovered when Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary arrested Hedges on 6 March 2018 for possessing an iPhone, in breach of his existing Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). This order, imposed due to his four prior convictions for making and distributing indecent images of children, prohibited him from owning devices with internet access. Examination of the phone revealed evidence of the appalling abuse inflicted by both Hedges and O’Hanlon on the victim, alongside more than a thousand other indecent images of children.

Detective Constable Dan Lucas, who led the investigation, described the discovery as shocking. “On examination of his phone we found evidence of the appalling abuse that both Hedges and O’Hanlon had inflicted on this child,” Lucas stated. “Hedges in particular is a prolific offender, having been convicted four times previously for making and distributing indecent images of children.”

Following the investigation, Hedges was charged with five counts of sexual assault, 10 counts relating to making and distributing indecent images, and breaching his SHPO. O’Hanlon faced five counts of sexual assault and six counts relating to indecent images. Both denied the charges but were found guilty by a jury after a two-week trial at Winchester Crown Court in June 2019. The sentencing hearing occurred on 16 August 2019 at the same court, where Hedges received 16 years' imprisonment and O’Hanlon was jailed for eight years.

DC Lucas emphasised the severity of the case, urging public vigilance: “This was a truly shocking case, and we would encourage anyone who has any information about a child being abused to contact police.” The case was prosecuted by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, highlighting their commitment to safeguarding children from sexual exploitation.