DAVID POTTS FROM SPENNYMOOR SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES INVOLVING UNDERAGE GIRL IN DURHAM

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Spennymoor and the wider Durham area, David Potts, a man in his 50s, was found guilty of engaging in a series of serious sexual offences involving a minor girl. The case, which unfolded in Durham Crown Court, revealed a pattern of grooming, manipulation, and exploitation carried out over several months, culminating in a conviction that has left many residents appalled.

According to court proceedings, the relationship between Potts and the underage girl began to develop in late 2017. Over a span of approximately five months, Potts persistently sent the girl numerous messages that grew increasingly suggestive and inappropriate. These messages, which included intimate photographs exchanged between the two, indicated a clear grooming process aimed at seducing the young girl for his own sexual gratification.

The court heard that Potts also bought gifts for the girl, further cementing his manipulative tactics. Their interactions eventually led to face-to-face meetings during which sexual activities took place. The gravity of his actions only came to light when the girl’s father discovered some of the messages on his daughter’s phone shortly before Christmas in 2017. Shocked and distressed by this revelation, he confided in the girl’s mother, and together they decided to report the matter to the police.

Despite the evidence, the girl reportedly still harbored feelings for Potts, believing they were in a genuine romantic relationship, and she resented her father’s intervention. This emotional complexity added a layer of difficulty to the case, but the court was clear in its judgment of Potts’ actions.

David Potts, now aged 54 and residing on Beech Avenue in Spennymoor, faced multiple charges, including sexual communication with a child, causing a child to watch a sexual act, inciting child sexual exploitation, meeting a child following grooming, and engaging in sexual activity with a child on two separate occasions. He initially denied causing or inciting the girl to engage in sexual acts and contested two more serious allegations of sexual activity with a minor. However, after a trial earlier this year, the jury unanimously found him guilty of all three charges.

The sentencing hearing was marked by emotional testimonies, including the anguish expressed by the girl’s father. The girl herself, however, stated that she did not feel affected by her relationship with Potts and blamed her father for ending it. Nonetheless, Judge Jonathan Carroll emphasized that her perception did not negate the reality of her exploitation.

Judge Carroll expressed concern about Potts’ potential for future harm, describing him as posing a high risk of causing further serious offenses. As a result, he sentenced Potts to an extended determinate sentence of nine years in prison, with an additional three years on extended licence. This means Potts will only be eligible for release after serving at least two-thirds of his custodial term, which amounts to six years, subject to parole board approval.

In his remarks, Judge Carroll underscored the gravity of Potts’ misconduct, stating, “You exploited her with a clear intention of putting your own selfish sexual desires first, last and in the middle, with no thought about what was right for her.” Furthermore, Potts was ordered to register as a sex offender for life and was subjected to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions.

Earlier in 2019, the case had already garnered attention when Potts was warned about the inevitable prison sentence he faced after being found guilty of similar offences. During that trial, the court heard how Potts engaged in a destructive relationship driven by his own sexual desires, with evidence of inappropriate messages and grooming tactics. The court was told that Potts believed the messages he sent, which included references to sexual acts, were deleted, but the girl had screen-shotted them, allowing police to uncover the evidence.

Prosecutor Jane Waugh described how Potts’ grooming involved praising the girl in hopes of encouraging further sexual activity, and emphasized that the relationship was not one of mutual affection but rather abuse. The girl, who initially appeared to downplay the severity of Potts’ actions, testified that she thought he was her boyfriend and that he was there for her when she needed a friend. However, the prosecution urged the court to look beyond her words and recognize the manipulation involved.

Defense lawyer David Callan admitted that the messages were “inappropriate” and expressed shame over them, but insisted that they were merely “banter,” “flattery,” and “fantasy,” and that no acts of sexual activity had actually taken place beyond kissing and touching her bottom over clothing. Despite this, the jury found Potts guilty of three counts of sexual activity with a child, including meeting her following grooming and engaging in sexual acts.

Judge Carroll, after reviewing the evidence, ordered a probation report to assess the risk of further offending before sentencing. He remanded Potts in custody for a month, making it clear that the sentence would be custodial, with the length to be determined based on the report’s findings. The case underscores the serious nature of grooming and sexual exploitation crimes, especially involving minors, and highlights the ongoing need for vigilance and justice in protecting vulnerable young people in communities like Spennymoor and Durham.