DAVID EATON'S HORRIFIC CRIMES IN MANSFIELD AND NOTTINGHAM: PAEDOPHILE SENTENCED TO EIGHT YEARS

In a case that has shocked the communities of Mansfield and Nottingham, David Eaton, aged 48, has been sentenced to a substantial prison term after a series of heinous crimes involving minors. The court heard how Eaton, a known sex offender with a troubling criminal history, groomed and engaged in sexual activities with a 13-year-old girl, despite having previously served time for similar offences.

According to court records, Eaton had been before the courts multiple times for sexual assault, voyeurism, and other related offences. Despite being released on licence, he reoffended shortly after, giving the impression to those assisting him that he was remorseful and reformed. However, Judge Andrew Hamilton was quick to dismiss this facade, stating, “Unfortunately, that was for show. The Parole Board fell for it. You were released. You were in a hostel.”

The incident came to light after a man residing at the same hostel as Eaton was involved in a sexual relationship with the 13-year-old girl. Eaton managed to obtain her phone number, which led to further criminal activity. The girl’s mother discovered text messages between her daughter and Eaton that were highly sexualized in nature. Concerned, she contacted the police after calling Eaton’s number and hearing an older male voice on the line. She then handed the phone over to authorities, Nottingham Crown Court was told on March 20.

Prosecutor Tina Dempster explained that the messages exchanged between Eaton and the young girl were “highly sexualized,” which prompted police to investigate further. The girl, who cannot be identified publicly, decided to speak with law enforcement after watching a television programme that addressed similar issues, which she said had a significant emotional impact on her.

At the hearing, Eaton, whose current address is listed as HMP Nottingham, admitted to meeting a child following sexual grooming and to four counts of engaging in sexual activity with a minor. Judge Hamilton sentenced him to eight years in prison, with an additional two-year extended licence upon release, and ordered him to register as a sex offender. The judge was unequivocal in his assessment, stating, “You are clearly a paedophile. You are someone who is attracted to young girls, and when the opportunity arises, nothing seems to stop you from having sex with them. You pose a significant danger and risk to prepubescent children.”

He further criticized Eaton’s manipulative behavior, noting that Eaton had falsely appeared remorseful and reformed to gain early release. “You manipulated all those who helped you and gave the impression that you had changed,” Judge Hamilton said. “You are a dangerous individual who has shown a pattern of predatory behavior.”

In a separate, earlier case from July 2007, Eaton was described as a “vile Mansfield sexual predator” who kept a disturbing journal filled with fantasies about children. The court heard that Eaton, then 40, had been branded a dangerous individual and sentenced to an indefinite term of imprisonment. His journal contained graphic descriptions of sexual acts involving children, alongside attempts to sexually assault a 12-year-old girl and secret photographs of a young girl asleep in her bed.

During that trial, Eaton also admitted to stealing women’s and children’s underwear and groping a woman on two separate occasions, including groping her breasts over her clothing while his wife was present in the vehicle. Prosecutor James Hett described Eaton’s interests as “unhealthy,” emphasizing his fetish for young girls’ underwear and his willingness to act on his fantasies whenever possible. The court also found that Eaton’s journal was “chilling,” filled with disgusting content that revealed a disturbing pattern of behavior.

Authorities discovered the journal along with stolen underwear and photographs during his arrest. The journal detailed sexual activities involving children and adults, illustrating the extent of Eaton’s depravity. His legal representative, Laura Dawes, argued that Eaton was remorseful, citing psychiatric and probation reports, but acknowledged that he had lost his good character.

Furthermore, Eaton’s conduct extended beyond his criminal acts. He was reportedly assaulted within the court building, an incident that the judge condemned, emphasizing that such behavior would not be tolerated.

Law enforcement officials expressed relief at the severity of the sentence, stating that it would help bring some measure of justice and closure to the victims and their families. A police spokesman remarked, “Eaton’s actions have caused distress and unnecessary anguish to those involved. We hope that this sentence will provide some comfort to his victims and allow them to move on with their lives.”

As part of his punishment, Eaton has been permanently barred from working with children and will remain on the Sex Offenders’ Register indefinitely. His minimum time before parole eligibility is set at 18 months, after which he will be subject to ongoing supervision and restrictions, reflecting the serious nature of his crimes and the threat he poses to society.