FAREHAM RAPIST DAVID SUTHERLAND STRIKES AGAIN JUST DAYS AFTER RELEASE FROM PRISON

In a disturbing escalation of his criminal history, David Sutherland, a 24-year-old man with a long and troubling record of sexual offences, committed a violent assault in Fareham just five days after being released from prison. The incident took place in a car park located on Civic Centre Way, near Fareham Borough Council’s offices, where Sutherland targeted a young woman, aged 19.

According to court proceedings, Sutherland forcibly restrained his victim, pinning her down in a threatening manner. He threatened her with a knife, which he claimed to have in his possession, heightening the severity of the attack. The young woman was reportedly startled by the sudden appearance of two women nearby, which caused Sutherland to flee the scene. Despite his attempt to escape, authorities quickly apprehended him in close proximity to the scene of the assault.

Following his arrest, Sutherland pleaded guilty to the attempted rape that occurred on Christmas Eve. As a result, he was sentenced to an indefinite term of imprisonment, a measure taken to protect the public from further harm. The court heard that a probation report had previously classified Sutherland as a “high risk” offender, given his extensive criminal history involving sexual offences, including two convictions for rape and four other attacks on children. Despite serving two-thirds of a 10-year sentence, he was released last month and was residing in a bail hostel at the time of the attack in Fareham.

Judge Richard Price addressed Sutherland directly during the sentencing, stating, “You may not be released for the rest of your life,” emphasizing the gravity of his repeated offences and the potential danger he poses. The Hampshire Probation Trust has launched an investigation into the supervision and management of Sutherland’s release, questioning how he was allowed to re-enter society so soon after his release.

Throughout his time in prison, Sutherland completed both a sex offender’s course and an advanced sex offender’s course. However, these interventions did not succeed in altering his dangerous behaviour, as evidenced by his recent attack.

His criminal record reveals a pattern of predatory behaviour dating back to his teenage years. His first known offence occurred in 2002 when he was just 15 years old. Over the following years, he carried out a series of sexual attacks, which culminated in a conviction in December 2005 at Winchester Crown Court. Sutherland was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for his crimes, which included two counts of rape, two sexual assaults, and four other sexual offences. His victims ranged from a girl as young as 12 to women in their 40s. His modus operandi typically involved approaching women or girls in public parks, offering money for sex, and then forcibly assaulting them, often using violence to subdue his victims.

His latest attack in Fareham underscores the ongoing threat posed by individuals with such a criminal history, and the case continues to raise questions about the effectiveness of current supervision and rehabilitation efforts for sex offenders.