ANDREW WHITE SHOREHAM SEX OFFENDER JAILED FOR CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULTS IN CHICHESTER

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Shoreham, Andrew White has been sentenced to a total of four years in prison after being convicted of multiple sexual offenses involving two young girls. The sentencing took place at Chichester Crown Court, where the court heard harrowing details of White’s abuse, which spanned over a decade.

Andrew White, a 53-year-old former mechanic residing on Western Road in Shoreham, was found guilty of sexually assaulting two girls, both of whom were under the age of 14 at the time of the incidents. The court revealed that White had engaged in a systematic pattern of abuse against the younger girl, with allegations including inappropriate touching while she was in the bath, kissing her on the mouth in a manner deemed inappropriate, and making her touch his genitals. These assaults reportedly occurred in 1995, when the girl was only 10 years old.

During the trial, White was convicted on seven counts of indecent assault against the younger girl. However, he was acquitted of charges related to rape involving the older girl. Despite this, White later pleaded guilty to three counts of assaulting the older girl, who was aged 12, 13, and 14 at the time of the offenses. The court also noted that four additional charges of indecent assault would be left on file, meaning they could potentially be pursued in the future.

White’s legal representative, Beverley Cherrill, expressed hope that his guilty pleas would bring some measure of peace to the victims. She stated, “She can go away knowing she has been believed on the allegations he has pleaded guilty to.” Cherrill also described White as a “model prisoner,” noting that he was expected to serve as a mentor for other inmates during his incarceration.

The victims, both of whom eventually found the courage to come forward in 2008 after confiding in each other about their experiences, played a crucial role in bringing White to justice. The court heard that the girls’ decision to report the abuse was a significant step, allowing the authorities to investigate and prosecute the case.

Judge William Wood QC emphasized the long-lasting impact of White’s actions, stating, “Although the offences happened a long time ago, they have had serious consequences for each of the victims.” He also pointed out the emotional toll on the victims, who had to face the ordeal of giving evidence and cross-examination in court. The judge remarked, “The fact is both these children as adults have been required to worry about this, come to court, give evidence and face cross-examination because you did plead not guilty from the outset.”

White was sentenced to two years in prison for each girl he assaulted, with the sentences to run consecutively, meaning he will serve a total of four years. It was noted that White had already served 140 days in custody prior to sentencing. The judge also ordered that White serve more than half of his sentence behind bars.

In addition to his imprisonment, White was issued a sexual offences prevention order. This order prohibits him from having any unsupervised contact with females under the age of 16, from having minors in his home or workplace, and from making any contact with his two victims. Furthermore, his name will remain on the sex offenders’ register for the rest of his life, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions related to his status as a convicted sex offender.