Ashley Mark Yard

Ashley Mark Yard, aged 38 and residing in Cocklands, Charminster, was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court for attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. The incident unfolded between 6 and 8 April 2023, when Yard initiated online contact with an individual he believed to be a 13-year-old girl named Holly from Derby. Unbeknownst to him, this was an undercover police officer posing as the minor.

Prosecutor Hannah Williams detailed how the conversation began on a social platform and quickly escalated after moving to WhatsApp. Yard expressed a desire for a 'long-term relationship' and inquired about the girl's attire, followed by explicit references to sexual behaviour and questions about her preferences. He also sent a photograph of himself during the exchange. Officers arrested Yard in June 2023 at an address in Poole where he was staying. During his police interview, Yard admitted to the communications and expressed remorse.

The court heard that Yard had a prior conviction, having been imprisoned for 18 months in 2010 for making and distributing indecent images of children in 2007 and 2008. Judge Stephen Climie described the current offence as 'serious', noting it was 'good fortune rather than design' that no actual child was harmed. Despite a maximum possible sentence of two years' imprisonment, the judge opted against custody, starting from a 15-month term reduced by a third to 10 months due to Yard's early guilty plea.

Mitigator Amber Athill argued that the offence was a 'momentary slip up' influenced by heavy cocaine use, leading to impulsive actions. She highlighted Yard's 14 years of progress since his last conviction and his subsequent disgust and shame upon reviewing the messages. Judge Climie imposed a three-year community order to ensure supervision, an indefinite sexual harm prevention order—likely lifelong given Yard's history—and registration on the sex offenders register for 10 years. The judge expressed public concern for future risks but noted Yard's compliance with a previous 10-year order.

This case was reported by the Dorset Echo on 10 May 2024, based on proceedings at Bournemouth Crown Court. The operation involved Dorset Police, underscoring efforts to protect children from online grooming attempts.