Winsford paedophile admits to string of child sex offences

David Harmes, formerly of Wharton Gardens in Winsford, has admitted to a string of 88 sex offences across the UK and USA.

From July 2019 to February 2020, the now 27-year-old targeted 45 youngsters aged between six and 15.

Police were eventually able to catch him thanks to his distinctive bedsheets.

Harmes pleaded guilty at Chester Crown Court today (July 24) and has been remanded in custody to be sentenced on September 5.

Harmes used a plethora of guises to draw his victims in, including a model scout for major clothing outlets called Jess, or a boy called Jaden or Alex, or Jadenthelad to name but a few.

He would draw them in after spotting them on YouTube or Instagram.

In total, Harmes commited a total of 88 offences against 39 victims from the UK and a further six from the USA.

Harmes will be sentenced later this year (Image: Cheshire Constabulary)

Harmes had just served his sentence for similar crimes when he was released on February 14, 2019, but it wasn’t until July that he began offending again.

Investigating officer DS Mark Naylor from the Cheshire Police’s major crime directorate said: “Having received intelligence Harmes was offending, his laptops, phones and other digital devices were seized in a warrant at his address.

"Harmes was returned to prison for breaching his Sex Offender Notification Order on February 8, 2020, preventing him from committing further crimes.”

Detectives pieced together his offending and linked him by his bedding in the images they found on his devices as well as footage of him accidentally opening his laptop and it filming his face for a few seconds.

The pieces were coming together to put a case to CPS to authorise charges.

Detectives liaised with the USA authorities to secure evidence for the victims in America and on May 18 this year, Harmes was served with a summons in HMP Risley to appear in court to face the charges, which included possessing, making and distributing indecent images, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, sexual communication with a child and engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.

Harmes' bedsheets helped detectives catch him (Image: Cheshire Police)

Detective Superintendent Simon Draco said: “This has been a complex and meticulous investigation with international based victims that has resulted in the conviction of Harmes and will bring justice for the victims of his offending.

“Cheshire Police has an investigation team dedicated to targeting those who sexually abuse and offend against children online and teams across the force work with partners to educate children, parents and carers about online predators, to safeguard children from potential harm.

“We’re really keen to drum home the message that parents and carers need to know what their children are doing online in order to protect them from predators like Harmes.

"We all know that we need to teach children not to speak to strangers in the street, but we need to drive home that very same message for the online world too, to prevent people like Harmes taking advantage.”