DAVID WEATHERALD JAILED IN KNARESBOROUGH FOR DECADES OF SEXUAL OFFENCES
A man with a decades-long history of sexual offending has been sentenced to prison.David Weatherald, aged 62, was convicted of abusing a girl over a period of several years, starting when she was young, as explained by prosecuting lawyer Kitty Colley.
The victim, now an adult, shared that Weatherald's sexual abuse contributed to her attempting suicide multiple times, along with experiencing other physical and mental health issues.
She revealed she did not report the crimes to police until Weatherald was prosecuted in 2019 for possessing indecent images of children, which gained media attention.
"My only hope in coming forward is so I can seek closure for what I have suffered for many years," she stated in a personal testimony.
"My life was stolen from me.
Nothing will recover those years or compensate for the trauma I have endured." Weatherald, of Fossdale Close, Knaresborough, pleaded guilty on the day his trial was scheduled to begin, to four counts of indecent assault and one act of indecency with a child.
He received a three-year prison sentence and was ordered to uphold a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, which prohibits him from, among other things, having contact with children under 16.
The Recorder of York, Judge Sean Morris, commented, "It is quite clear this offending shows your interest in children harks back some considerable time." Weatherald is also to remain on the sex offenders register for life.
Regarding his remorse, Nick Cartmell stated, "He has managed to control whatever proclivity, whatever sexual interest he has," adding that there have been no similar incidents since.
His defense argued that Weatherald’s use of indecent images of children served as a way to cope with his ongoing interest in young girls and to manage his urges.
The defense also requested that the sentence be suspended to allow Weatherald to retain his job, relationship, and accommodation.
Further context was provided from a 2019 court case, wherein police discovered extensive videos depicting young children being raped and sexually abused at Weatherald's residence during a 2017 search warrant execution.
One such video lasted 38 minutes, featuring children aged between 6 and 13.
Weatherald admitted to becoming sexually aroused by watching these recordings, leading him to face two charges of possessing indecent images of children.
His initial sentence of 10 months was later suspended and reduced to six months by the Court of Appeal, which took into account the time he had already served while awaiting the appeal hearing.
