SAM DICKETTY AND SHOCKING SEXUAL ABUSE IN ROMSEY AND WINCHESTER SCHOOLS

A man from Hampshire has been sentenced to prison for engaging in a series of sexual activities with a 15-year-old girl on the grounds of a school in Winchester. The individual identified as Sam Dickety was sentenced to four years behind bars following allegations that he had an inappropriate relationship with the teenage girl while she was still a student.

The incident took place at Henry Beaufort School, a well-known educational institution in Winchester. Court proceedings revealed disturbing details about the nature of their encounters, which occurred on multiple occasions in restricted areas on the school premises. Dickety, aged 23, resided on Tadburn Road in Romsey and was known to have been in a relationship with a pregnant woman at the time of his arrest, who was visibly distressed in the court gallery during sentencing.

According to court reports, the victim, who had developed a crush on the accused, actively pursued him by sending notes and messages. Dickety had shared his contact details—his phone number and email address—with her. At one point, he expressed in a message that he wished she was not only 15 years old, indicating inappropriate feelings and awareness of her age. The two teenagers arranged to meet on several occasions, with their sexual activities first taking place in a secluded area called The Harbour, a location accessible only to teachers, suggesting it was a private and somewhat hidden part of the school grounds. These clandestine meetings continued, with her visiting him again two days later in the same location.

The secret conduct persisted until Dickety's birthday, when the girl asked a fellow student to deliver a birthday card to him. The card, which contained affectionate language such as “I love you so much and you mean everything to me, you are my handsome Sam,” was intercepted by the girl’s mother. Believing the message to be provocative, she reported it to school authorities. The headmistress subsequently spoke to Dickety, who initially denied any misconduct, claiming that nothing inappropriate had occurred. Despite being reminded of safeguarding protocols and warned to avoid one-to-one contact with the girl, they continued to meet secretly in The Harbour for sexual encounters for an additional two months.

The case came to wider attention during the school holidays when Facebook messages—an account ideally managed by the parents, as the girl was not allowed her own social media accounts—exposed further evidence. A message from Dickety questioned whether she would be at a specific location that day, which raised suspicions.

During the court hearing, Dickety admitted to five of six charges related to the sexual acts with a minor. His defence counsel acknowledged his remorse but highlighted the complex nature of the case, noting the girl was nearing adulthood and was, at the time, engaging in what she believed was consensual activity. Nevertheless, the judge emphasized the gravity of the offense, particularly given the location of the abuse and the breach of trust involved.

Judge Susan Evans QC addressed the court, condemning Dickety for his exploitation of the vulnerable girl, who had a history of previous sexual assault—indicating her increased vulnerability. The judge pointed out that Dickety exploited this trust and the fact that the illicit acts took place on school premises added to the severity of the crime. Warning him about his failure to heed earlier advisories, the judge sentenced him to four years in prison, with a two-year minimum before potential parole. Furthermore, Dickety will be subject to lifelong registration as a sex offender and will be disqualified from working with children or vulnerable adults.

The school involved, a mixed comprehensive in Harestock, and the Hampshire County Council were approached for comment but had not responded by the time this report was published.