Child sex offender sentenced to 15 years in jail

Darren Hornsby was found guilty of 12 offences

A man from Clacton-on-Sea has been jailed for 15 years for sex offences against children.

Darren Hornsby, 36, was found guilty of 12 offences, including sexual assault with penetration and taking an indecent image of a child.

He also received an extended licence period of four years on top of his jail sentence.

Essex Police first charged Hornsby in 2021, but he was not put on trial until December 2024, following separate charges by Suffolk Police.

Essex Police first began an investigation in 2019, finding in his possession hundreds of category A, B and C indecent images, as well as 71 videos.

A forensic hand expert, Dame Prof Sue Black, was also able to identify Hornsby as the creator of one video portraying sexual assault of a boy aged between five and seven, where only the hand of the abuser could be seen.

"Dame Professor Black's work to identify Hornsby in the video was crucial in making sure their abuser was brought to justice," said Det Con Emma Edwards of Essex Police.

Additional charges were made by Suffolk Police in 2023.

These charges involved the befriending of two boys in their early teens for the purposes of inciting them to engage in sexual activity.

Hornsby will serve nine years in prison for the offences in Essex and six years for offences in Suffolk.