David Eyre, a 55-year-old man from Southport, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison and five years on licence for committing multiple child sex offences against a young girl. The verdict was delivered today at Liverpool Crown Court, following Eyre’s guilty plea in September.
The case was brought to light by the diligent work of the Online Child Abuse Investigation Team (OCAIT) at Merseyside Police. After a thorough investigation, Eyre was charged with various child sex offences, including the assault of a girl under the age of 13 through penetration and inappropriate touching. Additionally, he faced three counts of taking indecent photographs and possessing indecent images. These horrific acts were committed between 2021 and 2023.
Detective Inspector Victoria Tinsley, who led the investigation, expressed the team’s satisfaction with Eyre’s conviction. She stated, “Initially, a warrant was issued against Eyre, and following a search of his home, we seized electronic devices that contained explicit sexual photographs of a child. This discovery unveiled even more disturbing and depraved acts committed by Eyre against a vulnerable child.”
The overwhelming evidence against Eyre left him with no choice but to plead guilty to the charges. This outcome emphasises the strength of the case built by the investigative team.
Merseyside Police works in close collaboration with other UK forces, agencies, and the Child Exploitation Online Protection Centre. These partnerships, as well as connections with law enforcement agencies worldwide, demonstrate a shared determination to protect children from dangerous offenders operating online.
Detective Inspector Tinsley reiterated the commitment of Merseyside Police to bring child sex offenders to justice, regardless of the time that has passed since the abuse occurred. The force’s Online Child Abuse Investigations team consists of specialist officers who dedicate themselves to investigating these heinous crimes, ensuring that those responsible are held accountable and, ultimately, safeguarding young individuals from unimaginable suffering.
In closing, Detective Inspector Tinsley urged anyone who has experienced any form of sexual abuse or has information about a child being abused to come forward and report it to the police. She assured victims that all reports are treated with the utmost seriousness, and specially trained officers are available to provide support with sensitivity and compassion.
