David White of Copythorne avoids prison sentence after admitting historical child rape and sexual assaults

A MAN who admitted raping a child and repeatedly sexually assaulting another has avoided jail because he was so young when he committed the offences.

David White (33), of Barrow Hill Road in Copythorne, committed the offences around 20 years ago when he was aged between 12 and 15, Southampton Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor Mark Ashley told the court the complainants, who were younger than White, told police the incidents happened frequently, and occasionally while other adults were in the same room.

One of the victims, a boy, was orally raped by White and forced to touch him, while the female victim had her breasts and bottom groped before the behaviour “escalated”, with him becoming more “forceful and aggressive”. On occasions he would force her hand down his trousers.

Mr Ashley told the court White threatened to rape the girl if she reported him to the police, adding no-one would believe her.

Mr Ashley said the victims, now adults, had their lives irrevocably changed by White’s actions.

Reading a victim impact statement from the male victim – who was said to suffer from anxiety, depression and at times had been suicidal – Mr Ashley said: “All of this distrust I have stems from what happened to me when I was younger.

“It is easier to live life within a bubble. I feel disconnected from my own mind and memories.

“I have resigned myself to being on medication for the rest of my life.”

A statement from the female victim explained she had been affected both physically and mentally, with her mental health “greatly impacted” by the abuse. She was left suffering from panic attacks, anxiety and depression and had considered suicide “on many occasions”.

“I have spent thousands of pounds on therapy to try and undo the damage caused,” her statement added.

At an earlier hearing White pleaded guilty to sexual assault of a child, sexual activity with a child, causing or inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity, inciting a boy to engage in sexual activity, and rape of a child.

White was also convicted last year of possessing indecent images of children, for which he was handed a suspended sentence, the court heard.

Mitigating, Francisca Da Costa said White accepted his wrongdoing, but added he was “very young” when the offences were committed, and that he had also been the victim of sexual abuse from a male peer.

Prior to his conviction in June last year, he had worked in the petrochemical industry, but had resigned as a result of the court action.

He was now employed in vehicle recovery to support his wife and young daughter.

“He would be a very vulnerable person if he was incarcerated,” she added.

Judge Peter Henry explained to the court that he had to sentence White in accordance with when the offences were committed.

This is set out in the Crown Prosecution Service guidelines, he said.

Passing sentence, Judge Henry said: “However repulsive I find the offences to be, I am bound to sentence on the basis that Mr White is a youth. The law does not permit me to impose upon him a term of imprisonment.”

He added he recognised the “enormous suffering” of the victims and said: “No sentence I pass shall satisfy them, and it is very unlikely to bring closure”.

White was handed a three-year community order and must complete at least 60 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

He must undertake 350 hours of unpaid work and is subject to five-year notification requirements.