WOMAN SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF YOUNG BOYS
A woman with a history of sexual misconduct and obsessive interest in the private parts of young boys has been sentenced to prison after delays exceeding one year in the legal process.Diane Wade, 45 years old and residing on New Burlington Road in Bridlington, engaged in manipulative and calculated behaviors toward five boys aged between seven and 17.
She pretended to engage in innocent horseplay to conceal her true intentions.
The Hull Crown Court was told that over an eight-year span, she committed 14 separate acts of sexual abuse that involved elements of masochism.
A jury found Wade guilty of multiple charges, including three counts of sexual activity with a boy under 16, one of sexually assaulting a boy under 13, and three of sexually assaulting a male.
She denied the allegations, which were said to have occurred from December 2010 to December 2018.
Though her trial concluded in March of the previous year, her sentencing had been delayed repeatedly due to various issues, resulting in a wait of more than a year.
Judge John Thackray QC described Wade’s offending pattern, highlighting her obsession with male genitalia and the sexual and masochistic nature of her actions.
The judge emphasised that Wade consistently masked her misconduct as benign horseplay, which was false.
Her victims ranged in age from seven to 17, and her abuse spanned nearly a decade, with some charges involving multiple incidents.
Several of the offenses involved betrayal of trust or grooming, and her victims included a homeless boy with drug problems.
One victim was even permitted to consume alcohol during the abuse.
The judge pointed out that Wade caused physical pain and has left her victims with lasting concerns about fertility and trust issues.
Wade’s troubled background, described as wretched, was acknowledged.
In her mitigation, lawyer Charlotte Baines noted that Wade had no prior convictions and that her time in custody at New Hall Prison during the pandemic was impactful.
Baines highlighted Wade’s difficult childhood marked by violence and her early pregnancy, which contributed to her troubled life.
Wade’s sentence consists of five years in prison, along with a 10-year order to prevent her from engaging in further sexual misconduct.
She will also be required to register as a sex offender indefinitely.
The jury acquitted her of four charges, and a fifth charge resulted in a not guilty verdict following the judge’s direction.
