HARLOW PAEDOPHILE DAVID CARTER SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS FOR ABUSE OF CHILDREN

In April 2017, a man from Harlow, David Carter, was handed a significant prison sentence after being convicted of multiple serious sexual offenses involving young victims. The court proceedings took place at Harrow Crown Court, where Carter, aged 58 and residing in Heathcote Gardens within the Church Langley area of Harlow, faced justice for his heinous crimes.

The charges against Carter included the sexual abuse of a six-year-old girl, as well as the inappropriate conduct towards two other victims, one of whom was between 14 and 15 years old during the late 1980s and early 1990s. The abuse of the youngest victim occurred between November 1997 and January 1998, during which Carter engaged in acts that caused her physical pain and emotional trauma.

Specifically, the court heard that Carter had used manipulative and abusive tactics, such as hiding sweets in his pants and encouraging the young girl to find them, which was part of his grooming process. He also subjected her to acts of sexual assault, including penetrating her with his finger, which inflicted physical pain. For the teenage victim, Carter engaged in inappropriate behavior by playing 'horse,' a disturbing game that involved touching her breasts and vagina under her clothes, further illustrating his predatory conduct.

One of the victims, in a heartfelt statement delivered from the witness box in front of a packed courtroom, revealed the profound and lasting impact of Carter’s abuse. She described her ongoing struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder, stating, "Where do I start? I don’t know because my life has been one big mess." She recounted her battles with anxiety, her attempts at suicide, and her feelings of shame and dirtiness, which led her to compulsively clean her house. Her words underscored the deep scars left by Carter’s actions, emphasizing that she would never regain her childhood but hoped for a better future.

Looking briefly at Carter in the dock, she expressed her anguish by asking, “The one question I can’t seem to get an answer for is; what did I do to make him do this to me?”

Meanwhile, the second victim, who was not present in court, conveyed her suffering through a message read aloud by prosecutor Edward Franklin. She described her experience as a relentless film of trauma that continues to haunt her, even at the age of 25. She explained that the memories of what happened to her are vivid and persistent, affecting her daily life at work and at home. Her statement reflected the enduring pain and the difficulty of living with the aftermath of her abuse, with her expressing a hope that her life will improve over time.

Judge Freya Newbery condemned Carter’s actions as having a “toxic” influence that “reverberated” through the lives of his victims and their families. She emphasized that Carter had groomed the second victim to accept his inappropriate touching and more, highlighting the calculated nature of his predatory behavior.

In sentencing, Carter received a total of 12 years in prison. He was sentenced to nine years for the sexual assault of a child under 13 and for causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity. An additional four-year sentence was imposed for the sexual assault of the under-13 victim, to run concurrently with the previous sentence. Furthermore, he received three years for two counts of indecent assault, which will run consecutively, bringing the overall sentence to 12 years. The court also ordered that Carter serve at least half of his sentence before being eligible for parole.

Additionally, Carter was banned from working with children, a measure aimed at protecting others from potential harm. His conviction and sentencing marked a significant step in holding him accountable for his reprehensible actions and providing some measure of justice for his victims.