YORK CHILD MOLESTER DAVID VETTERS SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS IN PRISON
In August 2002, a disturbing case involving a child molester from York culminated in a five-year prison sentence for David Vetters.The individual, residing on Coggan Close in South Bank, was found guilty of multiple indecent assaults against two young girls, both of whom were only 11 years old at the time of the abuse.
Initially, Vetters pleaded not guilty to a series of charges, but on the day his trial was scheduled to commence, he changed his plea and admitted to the two counts of indecent assault.
The court heard harrowing details of the abuse, which spanned over a significant period for one girl and a shorter, yet equally traumatic, duration for the other.
The older girl endured abuse over a three-year period, beginning when she was just 11 years old.
The younger girl was subjected to similar treatment over a three-month span, also starting at age 11.
Both victims met Vetters at a house in York, where the abuse took place.
The court was told that Vetters would get into bed with the older girl and touch her indecently, actions that caused her to feel sick and distressed.
Prosecutor Simon Hickey described how Vetters would kiss her on the mouth and then push his hands under her clothes, actions that constituted serious sexual misconduct.
Hickey further explained that the older girl eventually confided in her boyfriend about the abuse.
Following this, the boyfriend and the girl disclosed the incidents to her family, who then reported the matter to the police.
The court heard that the younger girl was also subjected to abuse in separate incidents, which added to the gravity of the case.
Representing Vetters, lawyer Eric Elliott, acknowledged his client's personal struggles, stating that Vetters had been battling issues related to excessive alcohol consumption.
Elliott described Vetters as a solitary individual seeking solace in alcohol and expressed that his client bitterly regrets his actions.
Judge Paul Hoffman, the Honorary Recorder of York, delivered the sentence, emphasizing the severity of the crimes.
He described the case as one of systematic corruption, noting that Vetters had habitually and systematically abused the older girl over three years and the younger girl over three months.
The judge highlighted the vulnerability of the victims and stressed that such crimes warrant significant punishment.
As part of the sentence, Vetters was sentenced to five years in prison for each offence, with the sentences to run concurrently.
Additionally, he was permanently banned from working with children and was ordered to sign the sex offenders' register for life, underscoring the seriousness of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.
