An 84-year-old Pickering Paedophile, David John Hampshire, has been sentenced to over 22 years in prison for the sexual abuse of two minors.
David John Hampshire, 84, of Pickering, North Yorkshire, was sentenced to 22 years and 8 months in prison and placed on the sex offenders register for life.
The crimes were reported in December 2022, when the initial victim informed their parents about the abuse, which occurred over an eight-year span, commencing at the age of five and persisting until the age of thirteen.
During the investigation, it was revealed that David John Hampshire had sexually abused another younger kid at the age of three, who had reported the abuse at that time; nevertheless, David John Hampshire was not prosecuted then.
Following the sentencing on May 13 at York Crown Court, Detective Constable Lucie Welford of North Yorkshire Police’s Safeguarding Investigation Team stated: “David John Hampshire is an exceedingly perilous offender who has inflicted significant suffering on the victims and their families and has exhibited no remorse for the egregious abuse he perpetrated.”
I commend the victims for their courage and for their cooperation with the investigation, which contributed to ensuring David John Hampshire faced justice. It is hoped that today’s punishment provides them with a degree of closure, enabling them to progress with their lives.
The court was informed that David John Hampshire had served as a headteacher at an Anglo-Indian school in India prior to his tenure as a teacher at a high school in Norfolk, UK.
Regarding the duration since the acts transpired, Detective Constable Welford stated: “This case illustrates that the timing of the abuse does not impede the pursuit of justice.” We are unequivocally dedicated to prosecuting individuals accountable for such acts, irrespective of the elapsed period.
We encourage all victims of sexual abuse, regardless of when the incident occurred or whether it has been reported to law enforcement, to come forward. Our carefully trained officers will attentively listen, conduct investigations, and collaborate with partners to provide the necessary support.
In his personal statement, the older victim described how the abuse had caused them to “fall into a numbness” that hindered them from making healthy normal relationships with people.
Their mother also described how the abuse has had a “huge” and “lasting” effect on her child and how she has spent many sleepless nights worrying about them.
The other victim spoke about how what Hampshire did to them affected “every aspect” of their life, “from childhood to now” and how the memories of what happened still haunt them.
After the incidents were reported, Hampshire was arrested, and following a long and complex investigation by North Yorkshire Police, which took officers seven months alone to examine the material on David John Hampshire’s computer, he was charged with the following offences:
- Four counts of rape of a child under 13
- Three counts of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity
- Two counts of assault of a child under 13 by penetration
- Two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13
- One count of sexual activity with a child
- One court of indecent assault on a male person
David John Hampshire denied the offences but changed his plea to guilty in April this year.
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If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.