NORMAN WINTHROP'S SHOCKING CRIME NEAR JARROW PRIMARY SCHOOL IN SURRENDER

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the community, Norman Winthrop, a 62-year-old man from Jarrow, was found to have committed a heinous sexual assault on a young girl just yards away from a primary school. The incident has raised serious questions about how such a dangerous individual was able to secure employment in close proximity to a school environment, despite his long-standing status on the sex offenders' register.

Last night, the parents of the seven-year-old girl expressed their outrage and called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to Winthrop's employment. They are particularly concerned about how he was able to land a security guard position near a primary school in Jarrow, given his criminal history. The girl's mother, who resides in Sunderland, voiced her disbelief, stating, "The sentence is almost as unbelievable as the fact he got the job in the first place. He used it as a chance to befriend the children as they came home and eventually put my little girl through this ordeal."

She further emphasized the need for accountability, saying, "There must be an inquiry into how he was given this job and I want assurances that he will never work anywhere near children again. He is clearly a danger to children and I pray no other child suffers as a result of him slipping through the net."

Details from Newcastle Crown Court revealed that Winthrop, who was released from prison in 1999, was working on a building site in Sunderland early last year. It was during this period that the assault occurred. The court heard that on a particularly cold night, Winthrop attempted to coax the young girl into touching his groin by asking her to help him with his zipper, claiming his hands were too cold to do it himself. The girl, frightened, went to assist him but managed to run away when Winthrop was not looking.

Winthrop, of Bishop Crescent, Jarrow, South Tyneside, pleaded guilty to causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity. His criminal history is extensive, including a 1989 conviction for four counts of indecent assault on a girl under 14, which resulted in a six-year prison sentence. In 1994, he received a nine-year sentence for similar offences, and in 1998, he was jailed for three years after confessing to an attack on a young boy in the 1970s. Despite these convictions, he was able to secure employment in the security industry.

During the court proceedings, Bob Spragg, representing Winthrop, stated that his client, who was accompanied by his fiancée, has been a regular churchgoer since his last release from prison. Mr. Spragg remarked, "He has essentially managed to keep a lid on his behaviour for the past six years but it has not gone away completely."

At the time of the offence, Winthrop was employed by Britannia Security, a company based in Newcastle. A spokesperson for the firm explained, "We vet all our employees very carefully to the standards laid down by the Security Industry Authority. In this man’s case, he was taken on by a firm we acquired in August, and their staff came over to us. This would not have happened under our own vetting procedure."

The case has raised urgent concerns about the vetting processes and oversight of security personnel working near vulnerable children, especially in areas like Jarrow where community safety is paramount. The community and authorities alike are calling for stricter measures to prevent such incidents from recurring in the future.