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DAVID STOTHERS ROCHDALE SEX OFFENDER GETS COMMUNITY ORDER DESPITE HORRIFIC CRIME
In a distressing case that has left a family devastated, a mother from Rochdale has spoken out about the profound impact of a recent court decision involving a convicted sex offender. The offender, David Stothers, aged 36 and residing in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, was sentenced to a three-year community order after being found guilty of a serious sexual assault involving a young girl.The incident took place in the summer of 2007 within a churchyard, where Stothers engaged in an appalling act against a six-year-old girl. During the assault, he instructed the young girl to perform an indecent act on him, specifically ordering her to touch him inappropriately while he attempted to take a photograph of her using his mobile phone. The crime only came to light a year later when the girl confided in her mother about what had happened. Her account was further supported by a friend of the girl, who confirmed that she had been sent away by Stothers during the assault, indicating an attempt to conceal his actions.
At Bolton Crown Court, it was revealed that Stothers had warned both the young girl and her friend that they would be harmed or even killed if anyone else discovered what had transpired. Despite the gravity of his actions, Stothers pleaded guilty to a charge of indecent assault, which carries a maximum sentence of up to ten years in prison. However, instead of serving time behind bars, he was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for five years, and he is prohibited from owning or using any camera or camera phone. Additionally, he is barred from actively engaging with children under the age of 16 and must stay at least 200 metres away from the child's residence.
The mother of the young girl, overwhelmed with emotion, expressed her anguish over the court's decision. She stated, “I am absolutely gutted by this decision, which will mean he will be allowed to roam the streets of Rochdale while our lives have been ruined. I always brought my daughter up to tell the truth and told her people who do bad things would always be punished. So how do I tell her he has got away with this?” She further described her daughter’s suffering, revealing that the girl has been deeply disturbed, resorting to self-harm by biting and cutting herself with scissors. The mother lamented that her daughter’s innocence has been stolen and criticized the criminal justice system for its perceived inadequacies, saying, “I have had to do all the chasing to even find out what was going on and when he would be brought to justice. I want him named and shamed so parents in Rochdale are aware of him and he can’t do this to any other child or family.”
Prosecutor Geoff Whelan outlined that Stothers, who had prior convictions including one for assaulting a police officer, ordered the young girl to perform the indecent act while he attempted to take a photograph, although the camera malfunctioned during the incident. Defense lawyer Nicholas Clarke acknowledged Stothers’ guilt and highlighted his ongoing struggles with alcohol, stating that he consumes up to six litres of cider and vodka daily. Clarke suggested that imprisonment would not address his client’s issues, implying that a custodial sentence of up to 12 months would be ineffective.
Judge Elliot Knopf, presiding over the case, emphasized the seriousness of the offence, making it clear that the community order was not a lenient outcome. He underscored the gravity of the crime, which has left a lasting scar on the young victim and her family, and expressed the importance of public awareness and safeguarding children from individuals like Stothers in Rochdale.