Ryan Alden, a 36-year-old man from Leigh, Essex, has been handed a 20-year sentence for a decade of serious sexual offences against women and children. The sentence was delivered at Basildon Crown Court on Monday 16 March 2026 following a long investigation into his criminal activity.
Alden, who lived on Stonehill Road, admitted to 32 charges including sexual activity with a child, grooming minors through Snapchat, and filming people in private spaces. The court heard how he used hidden cameras inside a piercing studio and a swimming pool changing room and also had trousers fitted with buttons containing a concealed camera. to record victims without their knowledge.
The Police Online Investigation Team (POLIT) from Essex Police looked through thousands of videos and images of children found on his electronic devices. Some of the victims involved in the case were as young as 10 years old.
Judge Richard Conley described Alden as a dangerous predator and noted that his crimes were of a very serious nature. The 20-year total sentence consists of 14 years in prison and a further six years where he will be monitored under a strict licence.
Alden has also been placed on the sex offenders register for life and is subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) to prevent him from causing further harm. The investigation began in December 2021 after police received information about his online activity and searched his home address.
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