KEITH SUNDERLAND FROM DARLINGTON AND HARROGATE ESCAPES PRISON AFTER SEX OFFENCES INVOLVING BOYS

In a case that has once again brought to light the disturbing history of a convicted paedophile, Keith Sunderland, aged 58, was spared immediate imprisonment despite admitting to multiple serious charges related to his past crimes. The proceedings took place at Teesside Crown Court, where the court heard that Sunderland had a troubling history of sexual offences against young boys, with his crimes spanning over a decade.

According to court records, Sunderland had previously served time for similar offences. In 1992, he was sentenced to two years in prison for gross indecency committed in Darlington. His criminal record was further compounded when, in 1996, he received a four-and-a-half-year sentence at York Crown Court for a series of separate indecent assaults. During that period, he was known to have befriended young boys at his residence, offering them money to participate in sexual acts, providing alcohol, and showing them pornographic videos. These acts caused significant harm to his victims and contributed to his ongoing presence on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.

Most recently, Sunderland faced charges related to offences committed while he was residing at Sandriggs, Darlington, in the early 1990s. The court was told that he had twice been jailed for his actions against young boys during that period. However, he had since moved away from Darlington, and his latest case came to light after one of his victims, who had previously remained silent, decided to come forward and report the abuse to police in August of the previous year.

During the hearing, the victim, now a father of two, expressed ongoing anger and pain caused by Sunderland’s actions. Speaking to The Northern Echo, he revealed his feelings of betrayal and frustration, stating, “I want to kill the man. He should have gone to jail. I still feel angry towards him.” The victim recounted how Sunderland initially paid him for massages, which later escalated into sexual acts. He also described how Sunderland paid other friends to perform odd jobs around his home, illustrating a pattern of manipulation and exploitation. The man shared that the abuse had a profound impact on his life, leading to feelings of despair and even contemplating suicide. He emphasized that he has kept these traumatic memories bottled up for 18 years and expressed doubt that he would ever find true closure.

Prosecutor Shaun Dodds highlighted that Sunderland was already on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life, underscoring the severity of his past convictions. He detailed Sunderland’s history of offending, including his 1992 and 1996 sentences, which involved befriending young boys, offering them money for sexual acts, and engaging in other exploitative behaviors such as supplying alcohol and showing pornography.

In his defense, Sunderland’s solicitor, Simon Reevell, of Crossways Drive, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, argued that his client’s health issues should be taken into account. Reevell explained that Sunderland had lost one leg due to a deep vein thrombosis and was at risk of losing the other because of a serious medical condition. He claimed that Sunderland had not re-offended since 1996, had married, and had become a respected member of the community, asserting that he posed no danger to others now.

Judge Peter Fox, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, acknowledged the gravity of Sunderland’s crimes and their long-lasting impact on his victims. While he recognized Sunderland’s health problems, the judge emphasized the severity of the harm caused. “Were you in good health even now I would be sending you to prison,” he stated, “but I am not going to do that.” Instead, Sunderland was sentenced to nine months in jail, suspended for two years, a decision that drew mixed reactions given the seriousness of the offences and the suffering endured by the victims.