A 47-year-old convicted sex offender has been sentenced to seven months’ imprisonment at York Crown Court after pursuing and sexually assaulting a schoolgirl at a North Yorkshire bus station while subject to a suspended sentence.
Wayne Herrington, of no fixed address, appeared for sentence before the Recorder of York, Judge Sean Morris, following an investigation conducted by North Yorkshire Police.
The prosecution outlined that the victim was waiting at a bus station in the company of a friend when Herrington walked over to them. Presenting as heavily intoxicated, Herrington initiated conversation and questioned the girl about her age. The victim stated how old she was and immediately attempted to distance herself from him by relocating to a different seating bench within the station.
Rather than leaving her alone, Herrington followed the schoolgirl to the second bench. Prosecutor James Yearsley told the court that Herrington proceeded to direct illicit sexual comments towards the child before carrying out a sexual assault against her. The incident was recorded in full on the bus station’s CCTV cameras.
The young victim initially kept the assault to herself, but several days later she observed Herrington walking through the same town. Highly concerned by his continued presence in the public area, she reported the incident to the police, allowing officers to secure the video evidence and effect his arrest.
During court proceedings, the prosecution disclosed that Herrington was already a convicted sex offender who had received a 16-week suspended prison sentence 12 months prior for sexually assaulting a female police officer. In that matter, Herrington had seized the officer’s bottom with both hands.
Herrington entered formal guilty pleas to three charges:
Causing a child to engage in sexual activity
Sexual assault
Sexual communication with a child
Sentencing Herrington, Judge Sean Morris offered a scathing assessment of the offending:
“It was a dirty old man leching at a young girl while you were drunk.”
The judge passed an immediate custodial term of seven months’ imprisonment.
To safeguard the young victim and regulate his conduct upon release, the court imposed a five-year restraining order barring Herrington from contacting the girl in any manner. Herrington was also made subject to mandatory notification requirements on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years and disqualified from working with children or vulnerable individuals.
Image – Anonymous Artist Impression
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