DAMIAN WHITEHOUSE FROM SWINDON ESCAPES JAIL AFTER ONLINE GROOMING PLOTS REVEALED
In May 2019, a disturbing case involving Damien Whitehouse, a resident of Swindon, unfolded at Swindon Crown Court, highlighting the ongoing concerns surrounding online child exploitation and the challenges faced by law enforcement and mental health professionals.Whitehouse, a 20-year-old man from Priors Hill, Wroughton, was accused of engaging in online conversations with what he believed to be underage girls, attempting to groom them for sexual purposes through social media platforms such as Kik Messenger and Skype.
His actions came to light after police investigations revealed a troubling pattern of behavior that had begun years earlier.
According to court reports, Whitehouse first attracted police attention when he was just 17 years old, in November 2017.
Mental health staff at the Great Western Hospital expressed concern after he disclosed that he had been viewing child pornography online since he was nine years old.
This revelation prompted his detention under the Mental Health Act, and subsequent police intervention at his residence uncovered hundreds of indecent images and videos stored on his computers.
Following his release from a secure unit in Devizes, authorities remained vigilant, as Whitehouse continued his online activities.
He was found to be communicating with a girl he believed to be 13 years old, named Lily Jackson, via Kik Messenger and Skype.
During these conversations, he sent explicit images of himself and engaged in sexually explicit chat, asking her to send similar material.
The court was told that he also contacted another girl, believed to be 12 years old from Swindon, with whom he exchanged similar images and discussed meeting up, even asking her to bring condoms.
However, the meeting never materialized, and due to difficulties in verifying the child's identity, it could not be confirmed whether she was a real minor or another internet user.
When questioned by police, Whitehouse admitted to his actions, acknowledging that he had not been taking his prescribed anti-psychotic medication at the time.
He also confessed to having a sexual attraction to children but insisted he had never actually met any minors in person.
His mental health issues, including drug-induced psychosis, were a significant factor in his behavior, and he claimed that viewing certain images and videos was a way to prevent himself from acting on his impulses.
Whitehouse faced multiple charges, including making indecent images of children, attempting to cause a child to engage in sexual activity, and engaging in sexual communication with minors.
The prosecution, led by George Threlfall, emphasized the seriousness of his offenses and the potential risk he posed to the community.
During sentencing, Judge Jason Taylor QC acknowledged Whitehouse's full admissions and his mental health struggles but emphasized that his failure to take medication and his continued use of cannabis contributed to his offending.
The judge stated that although Whitehouse posed a high statistical risk of reoffending, he was not deemed dangerous in a legal sense.
Recognizing the importance of rehabilitation, the judge decided against immediate imprisonment.
Instead, Whitehouse was handed a two-year prison sentence, suspended for 24 months, coupled with a comprehensive mental health treatment order.
He was also ordered to participate in a sex offender program, complete 25 days of rehabilitation activities, and adhere to a sexual harm prevention order.
Additionally, he is required to register as a sex offender for the next ten years.
The court's decision underscores the priority placed on treatment and rehabilitation over incarceration in cases involving mental health issues and online offenses.
Wiltshire Police reaffirmed their commitment to child protection, stating that safeguarding children remains their top priority despite the court's decision.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing risks associated with online grooming and the importance of vigilance in protecting vulnerable minors from exploitation.
