DAVID CUTHBERT FROM DARLINGTON ESCAPES JAIL DESPITE SEXUAL OFFENSES INVOLVING YOUNG GIRLS

In a recent court ruling that has sparked outrage among the victims' families, David Cuthbert, a 64-year-old man from Darlington, was spared a prison sentence after admitting to serious charges related to online sexual misconduct involving minors. The judge overseeing the case opted to impose a community-based punishment rather than incarceration, a decision that has been met with strong criticism from those affected by his actions.

According to court records, Cuthbert engaged in inappropriate online communications with two young girls, encouraging them to perform sexual acts and send explicit photographs. The first victim, a 14-year-old girl with special needs residing in the Midlands, was contacted by Cuthbert through an internet messaging platform in early 2008 and again last year. The mother of this girl expressed her profound disappointment and anger at the sentence handed down, stating to The Northern Echo, “I wanted justice and this isn’t it.”

During the proceedings at Teesside Crown Court, it was revealed that Cuthbert, a self-employed landscape gardener, falsely claimed to be 24 years old when communicating with the 14-year-old girl. Initially, their exchanges appeared innocent, but the conversation soon shifted to sexual topics, with Cuthbert sending increasingly explicit messages. His misconduct was uncovered when the girl’s mother grew suspicious of her daughter’s withdrawal and decided to examine her laptop. It was then discovered that Cuthbert had also contacted a girl under the age of 13 from Scotland, making similar sexual requests.

Cuthbert admitted to two charges of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and requested that a third charge be taken into account. The court heard that he had targeted minors through social media and messaging sites, exploiting their vulnerability for his own gratification.

Judge Peter Armstrong sentenced Cuthbert to a three-year community order, which includes supervision and mandatory participation in a sexual offenders’ treatment program. Additionally, Cuthbert was placed on the sex offenders’ register for five years and was prohibited from using social networking sites or contacting individuals under 16. The judge acknowledged that a custodial sentence of at least 12 months would have been appropriate, but believed that the offender would benefit more from community-based rehabilitation.

“I have no doubt that the family of this young girl consider I should lock you up for a long time,” Judge Armstrong told Cuthbert, a former shopkeeper. “Well, I can tell you, if you fail to engage with this sex offenders’ treatment program, then that’s what will happen.”

Mitigating the circumstances, lawyer Dan Cordey highlighted that Cuthbert has been ostracized by his community since the charges became public. “He knows he will have to carry the burden with him for the rest of his life and, in particular, he has let down his wife, family, and friends,” Cordey stated. The decision to avoid imprisonment has left many victims and their families feeling that justice has not been fully served, especially given the serious nature of the offenses committed by Cuthbert in Darlington.