In 2024, the Offender Database reported that Dean Cheeseman, then 25, of no fixed address, was sentenced to 13 months in prison at Preston Crown Court. Cheeseman was drunk when he targeted two women during a house party in Morecambe, Lancashire, in February 2023. The investigation by Lancashire Constabulary detailed how he initially targeted a woman on a sofa before moving on to a vile and predatory attack on a 17-year-old girl who was feeling unwell.
The court heard that the horrendous assault on the teenager occurred after she retreated to an alleyway. Cheeseman followed her under the guise of “looking after her,” but quickly began making vile sexual comments about her work uniform. When the girl attempted to walk away, he called her a “b****” and pinned her against a skip, where he sexually assaulted her. The vicious incident was witnessed by partygoers, one of whom confronted Cheeseman before he was eventually arrested 11 days later.
Victim impact statements revealed the profound psychological damage caused by Cheeseman’s actions. The first victim reported that she had changed her entire appearance to look more masculine to “blend in” and avoid further targeting. The 17-year-old victim suffered from panic attacks and seizures, and she became so withdrawn that she was unable to attend college or eat. She expressed a severe loss of trust in others, stating that a “total stranger” had no right to treat her with such depraved lack of respect.
As a result of his conviction for sexual assault and common assault, Dean Cheeseman was jailed for 13 months. Judge Robert Altham emphasised that the “persistent” and severe nature of the offending necessitated immediate custody. Cheeseman was also made subject to a 10-year restraining order and must sign the Sex Offenders Register. He is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Lancashire Constabulary, and any breach of his orders in Morecambe, Preston, or elsewhere in Lancashire will result in his immediate return to prison.
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