ANTHONY DOCKERTY FROM BRANSHOLME SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF TEEN GIRLS IN HULL

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Hull, Anthony Dockerty, a 41-year-old former mathematics teacher from Bransholme, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for a series of heinous sexual offenses involving underage girls. The court heard how Dockerty, who held a position of trust at Winifred Holtby School in Bransholme, exploited his authority to groom and sexually assault multiple teenage girls under his care.

Dockerty's criminal activities included the rape of one girl, sexual assault of another 15-year-old, and grooming a third girl for sexual activity. The grooming process was particularly alarming, as it involved the teacher bombarding a teenage girl with explicit messages on Facebook, often exceeding 150 indecent messages sent to a single pupil. His predatory behavior was characterized by a pattern of manipulation and exploitation, with evidence revealing that he regularly used drugs such as cocaine, ecstasy, and Viagra to fuel his inappropriate conduct.

One of the most disturbing aspects of the case was Dockerty’s use of social media to target his victims. He urged a girl to delete Facebook messages to avoid detection, and he even persuaded a girl to dress in her school uniform for him. Additionally, he bought her nightwear and expressed his sexual fantasies about her. The court was told that Dockerty had convinced one girl that she had a crush on him, which he exploited by luring her to his home. Fortunately, a friend of the victim saw their Facebook conversation and alerted the police, preventing further harm.

During the trial, it was revealed that Dockerty had sent 40 messages to a female pupil in just one day. His messages included compliments about her intelligence and appearance, such as: “You are excellent at school, so bright,” “You are far more grown up than some of the other girls,” and comments about her appearance, like “Your hair looks nice” and “I saw you walking your dog. She is nice, but not as beautiful as you.”

Dockerty was convicted on multiple counts, including three sexual assaults on one girl, two rapes, attempted rape, and an indecent assault on another girl. He also admitted to grooming a pupil and engaging in sexual activity with her. During his week-long trial, Dockerty spoke openly about his personal sex life, claiming he had sex most days, sometimes twice a day, and that he would involve his partner in role-playing scenarios, dressing up as a schoolgirl or nurse.

The sentencing hearing saw victims in the courtroom expressing relief and support as Recorder Alistair McDonald QC handed down the sentence. The judge described Dockerty as a “highly manipulative person” who abused his professional position and age to sexually exploit young girls. He emphasized that Dockerty’s actions demonstrated a “very large sexual urge” directed at impressionable teenagers, and he condemned his manipulative tactics to coerce and control his victims.

As a result of his convictions, Dockerty has been banned from working with children and from having unsupervised contact with minors. He will also be required to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life. A spokesperson for Humberside Police expressed their support for the sentence, stating, “We welcome the length of sentence and hope it acts as a warning to others.” The case has left a lasting impact on the community of Hull, highlighting the importance of vigilance and safeguarding vulnerable young people from predators like Anthony Dockerty.