ARTHUR HEPPLE, YORK PENSIONER, SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES AGAINST WOMAN AND GIRL
In York, a 78-year-old man named Arthur Peter Hepple has been sentenced to prison after committing sexual assaults against a woman and a girl earlier this year, despite being under a court order that prohibited him from engaging with girls under 16 and being on the sex offenders’ register.The York Crown Court heard that Hepple ignored these restrictions and reoffended.
Back in 2014, Hepple received a 13-month prison sentence for sexually abusing a different woman and girl.
His original sentence was suspended for two years on the condition that he did not offend further and completed a sex offender treatment program.
All offences cited in these cases took place within York.
Judge Paul Worsley QC sentenced Hepple to 27 months in prison and remarked, “I hope (the sentence) is one which will be sufficiently unpleasant to you that you will curb your desire to touch up, in particular, young girls.” As Hepple was led away to the court cells, the judge added, “If he does it again, he is going inside for a very long time.” Hepple, of Avon Drive, Huntington, pleaded guilty to charges including sexual assault of a woman, sexual assault of a girl under 16, and breaching a sexual harm prevention order issued in 2014 by being with a girl under 16.
In addition to his prison term, Hepple was subject to a second sexual harm prevention order that extends the ban on being with girls under 16 for 10 years, an increase from the previous five-year order.
He will also remain on the sex offenders’ register.
Graham Parkin, representing Hepple, stated that there was little he could say for his client.
Hepple, who had been remanded in custody since his arrest in August, described his time in jail as “extremely shocking,” noting he suffers from health issues, including heart problems that require treatment every few weeks.
Prosecutor Stephen Littlewood explained that Hepple had befriended his latest victims, giving them small gifts before committing the abuse.
The offences in question occurred after the 2014 sentence had been suspended.
Earlier, in October 2017, Hepple admitted to sexual assaults against a woman and a girl, marking his second appearance in court for similar crimes.
Despite court efforts to prevent future offences—such as the 2014 sexual offences prevention order—Hepple continued to offend.
At his latest hearing, York Crown Court’s Judge Paul Batty QC told Hepple, “You must understand custody is highly likely, given your background and your previous convictions.” He was remanded into custody, where he has been held since arrest, pending sentencing.
Hepple’s defense team plans to seek medical reports, as it was disclosed in previous court proceedings that he has multiple health conditions requiring ongoing treatment.
The court also referenced his guilty plea for the offences, which included breaching the previous order by having unsupervised contact with a girl under 16, and emphasized the likelihood of a custodial sentence.
