Dylan Alfie Cullen

Dylan Alfie Cullen, a 19-year-old resident of Kingston-upon-Thames, was sentenced at Harrow Crown Court on Thursday, 23 February 2023, following his guilty pleas to serious sexual offences against a child. The court heard that Cullen had admitted to one count of rape of a child under 13, two counts of sexual assault, and two counts of encouraging a child to engage in sexual activity. All offences were committed against a single female child known to the offender, spanning several months from September 2020 to March 2022.

The investigation began on 20 March 2022 when police were called to an address in Kingston-upon-Thames after the victim's family reported the abuse. Officers arrested Cullen at the scene and took him into custody. During his interview, he declined to answer any questions. He was formally charged just two days later on 22 March 2022. Cullen entered his guilty pleas at an earlier hearing on Friday, 28 October 2022, allowing the case to proceed to sentencing without a full trial.

Presiding at the court, the judge imposed a sentence of nine and a half years' imprisonment, with an additional one year to be served on licence upon release. This custodial term reflects the gravity of the offences, which involved repeated sexual exploitation of a vulnerable child. The Metropolitan Police, responsible for the investigation in this London borough, commended the courage of the victim and her family.

Detective Constable Annabel Leslie-Miller, the lead investigator, stated: “This has been an extremely challenging investigation but the successful outcome has only been possible thanks to the strength the girl and her family have shown throughout this process. I hope now that Cullen has been convicted and sentenced, they can begin to move on with their lives.” The case underscores the importance of reporting child sexual abuse, with specially trained officers available to support victims and pursue justice.

Source: UKNIP, published 24 February 2023.