Description
A man who continues to pose a danger to young females by his “deviant” behaviour has been sentenced to a third prison sentence for sexual activity with an underage girl.
Aaron Whitwell is already serving a seven-year extended sentence for previous similar activity, but his latest seven-year sentence will only begin on conclusion of that and a further two-year prison term for breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).
It means the earliest he is likely to be released from prison is in the mid-to-late 2030s.
The now 28-year-old defendant, formerly of West Cornforth, appeared for his latest sentencing hearing at Durham Crown Court by video link from HMP Moorland, in South Yorkshire, where he is serving his previous jail term.
Deborah Smithies, prosecuting, said at the time of the latest offences Whitwell was on licence from a 33-month sentence for offences involving another teenage girl, for which he was subject to an indefinite SHPO.
It included a prohibition from communication with any child under the age of 16.
Upon his release from that sentence, he was interviewed about further allegations of similar activity with a teenage girl, for which he received a seven-year extended sentence in September 2023.
Outlining details of his latest offence, Miss Smithies said Whitwell responded to the posting of an image of the underage girl with a friend, on Snapchat.
He soon asked how old she was and, having been told, he responded, saying he was 17 and gave the name ‘Aaron Hardy’.
Following ten days of exchanging messages he turned the chat to sexual matters and intimate pictures were exchanged, before Whitwell suggested that they met.
Both went accompanied with a friend, and on the first meeting the defendant kissed the girl, but during subsequent meetings sexual activity took place, one time in bushes.
The girl told police they met another five or six times when sexual activity took place, while in the simultaneous messaging the defendant told her he loved her.
Following suspicions raised by the sister of a friend of the complainant, after she heard them talking about 'Aaron', his true background emerged.
The victim said she would not have met him had she known his true age.
She said it made her feel “sick” knowing how much older he really was, and that she thought he really loved her and it made her feel for him.
But she said he had “messed up” her head and she now realised how vulnerable she had been.
Whitwell was interviewed and denied seeking out the girl on social media or contacting her, which meant she had to attend a video identity procedure when she positively identified the defendant.
In a subsequent victim statement the girl said she struggled to sleep and when she did, she suffered nightmares thinking about the events, while she has since struggled with self-confidence.
She said it caused a falling out with her family and she turned to drink and drugs to seek comfort, and would leave home for lengths of time, leading to arguments, “with everyone around me”.
The girl said the situation reached breaking point and she had to receive assistance from a mental health crisis team as her behaviour and anger were out of control, leading to self-harm.
She said it had also affected her schoolwork and her trust in other people, adding that, overall, she feels like the defendant has “ruined her life”.
Whitwell admitted six counts of sexual activity with a child, one each of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and breaching a SHPO.
Chris Morrison, in mitigation, said the defendant was now “remorseful” and had acknowledged his guilt early in court proceedings.
Mr Morrison said it could not be denied that the defendant’s offending, “forms a pattern” for which he is receiving “condign punishment”, with his earliest release date on his previous sentence being in September 2030.
Mr Morrison said the defendant has a low IQ and suffers with social isolation plus an inadequacy dealing with people, in general, and women, in particular, of his own age.
“He acknowledges that improving himself will take some time, but he knows he will have to reintegrate into society at some stage.
“But he can’t do that until he reaches a level of maturity, insight and self-awareness.
“As far as the outside world is concerned, he has no contact with the outside world.”
But Mr Morrison said the defendant has rid himself of any form of substance misuse while in custody.
Judge Richard Bennett told Whitwell: “You are a man with deviant sexual preferences, including an interest in young girls and I have concluded you are a dangerous offender.
“You are 28 and this will be your third child sex offence, committed while on licence following a 33-month sentence for similar activity and, also, at the time, while on bail for other offences.
“You were also subject to a SHPO, prohibiting contact with any child under 16.
“But if didn’t deter you from offending.”
Judge Bennett said it had a “profound effect” on the victim, with his deception, “shattering her confidence and self-belief”.
He said the defendant was “untamed” by previous court orders, with no sign when his pattern of offending might diminish.
The judge imposed a two-year determinate sentence for the breach of the SHPO to be followed by a consecutive seven-year sentence for the new offences, to be followed by a five-year extended licence period upon release.
Whitwell must serve at least two-thirds of the seven-year custodial element of the sentence before being eligible for consideration for release.
He was also made the subject of an indefinite restraining order relating to his latest victim, plus a new SHPO, which will also run indefinitely.