Reece Hempshall

Reece Hempshall, a 25-year-old night shift worker from Chesterfield, Derbyshire, was involved in possessing and making indecent images of children, as well as attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. The case came to light following his arrest in January 2024, when police discovered a substantial collection of illegal material on his devices.

During the investigation at Derby Crown Court, it was revealed that Hempshall had amassed 164 category A images, including 80 videos, and 652 category C images, including 109 videos. Many of these images depicted an identifiable victim aged 13 to 15, whom Hempshall had known personally. The court heard that he had deliberately sought out and gathered these images through a series of online deceits, exploiting his connections to obtain the prohibited content.

The discovery was prompted by Hempshall's online interactions with an undercover police officer who was posing as a 12-year-old girl. In these chats, Hempshall requested images from the supposed child and sent extremely explicit images of himself, demonstrating clear intent to engage in sexual communication with a minor. This interaction led to his arrest and the subsequent search of his electronic devices, uncovering the extensive library of indecent material.

Hempshall, residing on Mayfield Drive in North Wingfield, had no previous convictions at the time of the offences. His barrister described him as having lived an isolated existence due to his night shift work, but noted that he was now in an established relationship and had expressed genuine remorse for his actions. Judge Jonathan Straw acknowledged Hempshall's realistic prospect of rehabilitation and, consequently, suspended the 20-month custodial sentence for two years.

In addition to the suspended sentence, Hempshall was ordered to complete 25 rehabilitation activity days and was subjected to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order. He pleaded guilty to making indecent photographs of children and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. The case was reported by the Derbyshire Times on 4 December 2025, highlighting the ongoing efforts to combat child sexual exploitation in the region.