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  Sex Attacker Escapes Jail

Eastbourne Today
March 19, 2008

http://www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/seaford-news/Sex-attacker-escapes-jail.3890565.jp

A former school governor from Seaford who pleaded guilty to the sexual assault of a thirteen-year-old boy has escaped a jail sentence.

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 court's attention for a number of years and aside from this case has 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 sex offenders' register for 10 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 10 years and will not be allowed to work with young people again."

 
 

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