Judge throws book at repeat Sheffield sex offender who assaulted "vulnerable" young man he met through app
“You have shown no intention of abiding by your sexual harm prevention order if you can get away with it”
A repeat sex offender assaulted a “vulnerable” young man then hid from police for months after ignoring a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Dave Hirchfield was released from prison in early 2023 for grooming and abusing a 14-year-old girl.
As part of his release, he was made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention order (SHPO), banning him from moving house or owning a device that can access the internet without telling police.
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But at Sheffield Crown Court on November 6, His Honour Judge Graham Reeds KC slammed the 24-year-old for “showing no intention” of learning his lesson after breaching the order time after time - and going on to assault another victim in his flat.
“There is a very high risk of you committing further sex offences in the future,” said the judge.
“In 2022 you were made subject of a SHPO in respect of sexually assaulting a young girl.
“You still haven’t learned the lesson of that order... you have shown no intention of abiding by it.”
Indecent assault on young man
Just a month after his release from prison in March 2023, Hirchfield assaulted a 21-year-old man he met online via an app for making friends.
After meeting up on two occasions, Hirchfield sent obscene sexual messages to the victim, who ignored them.
But when they met up on a third occasion and went to Hirchfield’s flat because it was raining, the court heard he “locked the door” on the way in so the victim could not leave.
The court heard the victim was assaulted on the couch, where Hirchfield forcefully kissed and groped him.
The judge added: “The intention was to [take your offending] a lot further with that person.”
The attack was reported to police by the victim’s social worker.
In a victim impact statement, the man said the distress contributed to him being sectioned under the Mental Health Act soon after.
Hirchfield later pleaded not guilty to sexual assault, but was convicted at Sheffield Magistrate’s Court and released on bail.
Hid phones from police
Meanwhile, over several months in 2024, Hirchfield was caught possessing undeclared phones in violation of his SHPO.
His probation officer became suspicious when Hirchfield made contact on an unrecognised number while claiming he had “borrowed his friend’s phone”.
When police visited his flat, officers found a second mobile in a drawer.
Then, in June 2024, a warrant was issued for his arrest after he failed to attend court over breaching his SHPO.
But when officers attended the 24-year-old’s flat, they found it empty after he seemingly did a runner.
In November 2024, he was found at a different address, where he was again caught with an iPhone in breach of his SHPO.
‘I’m a target’
In a police interview, Hirchfield complained about his sexual harm prevention order.
Prosecutor Katherine White said he told police he felt the order was “disgusting” and he was “sick of being a target for police”.
His barrister, Sam Magee, asked the judge for leniency, saying his client had a traumatic childhood, learning difficulties, and has “an inability to understand” what others want of him.
“In my submission, he is not a malicious individual, and he genuinely struggles to understand others due to his cognitive impairment,” said Mr Magee.
‘Intention to go further’
In total, Hirchfield appeared in court for sexual assault, three counts of breaching his SHPO, failing to comply with conditions as a sex offender, and failure to surrender to court.
“There is nothing I can see that explains your offending,” Judge Reeds said in sentencing.
“You seem to think the police were harassing you when they were only enforcing your sexual harm behaviour order.
“You have shown no intention of abiding by your order if you can get away with it.”
Hirchfield, of Immingham Grove, Chesterfield, was jailed for four years and handed a five-year restraining order to stay away from his victim.