Observer
March 14, 2008
http://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/509/Exschool-governor-spared-jail-for.3879216.jp
A former school governor from Seaford who pleaded guilty to the sexual assault of a teenage boy aged under 16 has escaped a jail sentence.
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| Allan Whitty |
Allan Whitty, 44, formerly of Kammond Avenue, Seaford, was given a 12 month sentence suspended for two years after admitting assaulting the boy in January this year.
He also made inappropriate remarks to the boy in an earlier incident, Lewes Crown Court, was told.
When the boy's parents found out what had happened and telephoned police, Whitty went to the Royal Sussex County Hospital and told staff that he had a problem and needed help.
Whitty, who was a governor of Annecy Catholic School in Seaford, had previous convictions for gross indecency in 1987 and 1991. He claimed that even though he had been married for 22 years he was a homosexual.
His defence barrister, Kelly German, said: 'He has not come to the courts attention for a number of years and aside from this case ha
s been an upstanding member of society, a family man and member of the church.
'He knows what he did was utterly wrong. He confessed fully to the police and his remorse is genuine.
'Despite being married for 22 years he is homosexual and maintains that he has no history of being interested in young boys. This situation was a one-off.'
Whitty will be placed on the sexual offenders' register list for ten years.
Judge Richard Hayward told him: 'You have expressed remorse and shame which I believe is genuine. The abuse of young people is very serious and usually results in a prison sentence.
'You have served four months already and will get a 12 month suspended sentence on the condition that you take part in a sexual offenders' rehabilitation course.
'You will be placed on the sexual offenders' register for ten years and will not be allowed to work with young people again.'
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