York Crown Court Sentencing Results

Carl Richard Bolton, then 36, a lodger in the family home, groomed and sexually abused his landlord's young daughter over a two-year period beginning when she was of primary school age. The abuse started with French kisses and escalated to more severe acts, including indecent assaults in her own home and on one occasion taking her to a public toilet for further sexual activity. Some offences occurred when the girl was home alone because of illness, and Bolton would signal to her to arrange times and places even when others were present. The offences only came to light years later when the victim confided in her mother. Bolton was sentenced at York Crown Court to three years and nine months in prison, with extended supervision upon release.

Anthony Barry Lee, aged 67 from Walmer Carr, Wigginton, indecently assaulted two generations of the same family over 21 years. He targeted an older victim repeatedly when she was between 10 and 17 years old during the 1970s and 1980s, and later assaulted her daughter on three occasions when the child was aged between 5 and 10 in the 1990s. He denied 12 charges of indecent assault but was convicted by a jury at York Crown Court, forcing both victims to testify.

Brett Whittaker, a 44-year-old labourer of no fixed address, sexually assaulted a male hotel employee by trapping him in a room at a North Yorkshire hotel while complaining about the temperature. Despite the employee's attempts to address the issue, Whittaker, who was under the influence of alcohol, assaulted him in four distinct ways, leaving DNA evidence including from a kiss. The victim required counselling and medical help and was unable to continue his employment. Whittaker also behaved sexually towards a female guest. He denied four charges of sexual assault but was convicted based on overwhelming evidence.

Bradley Rabjohns turned up drunk and over four hours late to a construction site, where he was singing and acting strangely. The site manager asked him to leave, but he refused and followed workers around. He became agitated, threw a toolbox at a Ford Ranger driven by the site manager, causing £2,483 damage and a minor injury to the manager. He then put a brick through a digger window, causing £366 damage. Police arrested him; he initially complied but then resisted and kicked an officer in the legs and another in the thigh. On November 27 of the previous year, police were called to a fight in Beech Grove, Northallerton. Rabjohns was verbally and actively resistant in the police van and, on arrival at the station, refused to get out, kicking one officer in the face and another in the chest. He failed to attend York Magistrates' Court on December 12 and an arrest warrant was issued. When officers went to his home, he asked to have handcuffs removed to put on a jacket, then pushed past an officer and ran but was quickly detained. On January 14, his mother called police because he was banging his head on doors and walls. He refused to get in the police van, swore, and kicked an officer in the head and another in the arm. At the station he spat in an officer's face. He later claimed a mental-health episode. He had previous convictions.

In 2019, Rennison, who was supposed to be supervising a young girl, entered her bedroom at night and sexually assaulted her while she was meant to be sleeping. The victim remained awake and became hysterical when her mother returned. Rennison forced her back upstairs to stop her alerting her mother, then fled in a vehicle and went missing for over 24 hours. He was found sleeping in a car in a layby on the York Outer Ring Road and tested positive for drink-driving. At York Crown Court in 2020, the court heard the child suffered severe psychological trauma, nightmares, and long-term developmental effects. The judge, Recorder Sean Morris, imposed a two-year immediate custodial term for the abuse.

David Robert Welham, a 36-year-old man from Whitby, sexually assaulted a woman in the early hours of August 9, 2024, by forcing himself upon her. He was arrested the same day and initially denied the charges, but changed his plea to guilty minutes before his trial at York Crown Court. The court imposed a 10-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months, with requirements including 200 hours of unpaid work, 10 years on the sex offenders' register, and a five-year restraining order.

David James Kitching, a former scout leader, sexually abused a young boy during the 1990s. The offences comprised three counts of indecent assault and six counts of gross indecency. The victim reported the abuse to North Yorkshire Police in January 2021 after disclosing it to his wife. Kitching was convicted on 4 May 2023 after a three-day trial at York Crown Court. The victim's wife provided a statement detailing the profound impact, including the victim's suicidal thoughts and strain on the family.

David Weatherall, of Fossdale Close, Knaresborough, abused a child for years starting when she was young, committing sexual acts that led to her suicide attempts and ongoing physical and mental health problems. The victim came forward after his 2019 prosecution for indecent images was reported in the media. He had previously been sentenced for possessing indecent images of children found during a 2017 police search of his home.

Jamal Mohammed Rassidou and another man entered a Chinese restaurant on High Street, Great Ayton, on November 12, 2018, at about 7:55pm, wearing Halloween-type masks and carrying kitchen knives. They demanded money from staff, causing fear of being stabbed, and made off with £250. Rassidou was identified through community intelligence and arrested. He pleaded guilty to robbery, possessing an offensive weapon, and possession of cannabis.

Mark Christopher Blackie, a teacher from Park Lane, East Lutton, near Malton, sexually abused five girls at his school for his gratification, including taking one alone into an area for a serious sexual offence, attempting to rape her, and other abuses. He used emotional blackmail to silence one victim. His actions drove one girl to overdose and self-harm. Two victims were vulnerable due to their emotional state. The victims gave compelling evidence.

On Christmas Eve morning, 24 December 2023, Melissa Duncan broke into a couple's home in Ivy Cottages, Northallerton, while they were out walking their dog. She entered through an insecure front door and stole jewellery worth £500, prescription medication, and other items, leaving dog biscuits on the sofa. The female victim later suffered a hypoglycaemic attack from shock. Shortly afterwards, Duncan broke into a man's home in Clarkson Court while he slept. Confronted by the victim, she claimed to be a care worker and during a struggle left behind a carrier bag containing the stolen items from the first burglary along with the victim's coin collection. The same morning she also stole £40 from her former partner's wallet at his home in Springwell Lane. When arrested later that day, she pulled a knife and threatened self-harm. Duncan had 76 previous offences for burglary, drug crime, and theft.

On November 6, Kyle Illingworth, 31, from Borrowby, after drinking about five pints at the Grey Horse pub in Selby, went behind the bar and whispered to the barmaid to open the till, stating 'I’ve got a knife'. He grabbed her scarf, snatched about £80 from the till, and fled. He was chased by a police officer after being seen jumping a fence and getting into a Vauxhall Astra. He was later identified from CCTV and arrested. He admitted the robbery offence.

Joseph Mark Lambert and another man entered a Chinese restaurant on High Street, Great Ayton, on November 12, 2018, at about 7:55pm, wearing Halloween-type masks and carrying kitchen knives. They demanded money from staff, causing fear of being stabbed, and made off with £250. Lambert was identified through community intelligence and arrested. He pleaded guilty to robbery and possessing an offensive weapon.

John William Marshall, a 68-year-old resident of Harrogate, was convicted for the sexual assault of a young girl in Northallerton during the 1990s. He befriended the girl's family and abused her while trusted to look after her. The assaults were reported at the time but no action was taken. The victim contacted authorities in 2019 after Marshall's prior conviction for possessing over 24,000 indecent images of children. A cold case review led to his trial at York Crown Court in August 2023, where he was found guilty. Sentencing on 21 December 2023.