RICHARD HUTTON SENTENCED IN WHITBY FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF TWO WOMEN OVER FIVE YEARS

In a case that has shocked the community of Whitby, Richard William Hutton, aged 41, was sentenced to a total of five years in prison after admitting to a series of serious sexual offences committed against two female victims. The crimes spanned a period from April 1984 to February 1989, and Hutton’s guilty pleas included a total of 33 charges.

Hutton appeared before York Crown Court on a recent Thursday for sentencing, having previously admitted to all charges during a court hearing. The court was informed that as part of his conviction, Hutton will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life, a measure that underscores the severity of his crimes.

The charges against Hutton comprised nine counts of indecent assault, six counts of sexual assault, and three counts of voyeurism, all committed against one of the victims. Against the second victim, he pleaded guilty to seven counts of indecent assault, five counts of sexual assault, and three counts of voyeurism. The court heard that these offences were carried out over a period of several years, with the earliest dating back to the mid-1980s.

Prosecutor David Garnett provided the court with details about the nature of the offences, revealing that they occurred regularly, sometimes up to three times a week, often when Hutton was on his way to work. The first victim, who eventually disclosed the abuse, described feeling unable to tell anyone about what was happening to her at the time. The second victim’s account only came to light after the first victim’s revelation.

According to Mr. Garnett, the assaults primarily involved touching, but as the offending period progressed, Hutton’s actions shifted towards voyeurism, with him viewing the victims in states of undress. The victims’ Victim Impact Statements expressed their desire to never see Hutton in Whitby again and conveyed their concerns about the possibility of him having harmed others. The second victim stated, “I’m relieved that I no longer have to hold in all the anger and upset.”

During the sentencing, Judge Geoffrey Marson QC acknowledged Hutton’s characterization as a “hard working and good father,” and while he did not consider Hutton to pose a future danger to the public, he emphasized the gravity of the offences. The judge explained that he was passing the minimum sentence possible, taking into account the mitigating factors presented in the case, and highlighted the profound impact the crimes had on the victims.