In 2019, the Offender Database reported that David White, then 37, of Weardale Place, Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, was sentenced to 32 months in prison. On a date in May 2019, White appeared at Teesside Crown Court for sentencing after being caught in an undercover police sting while attempting to meet a 12-year-old girl for sex.
The investigation established that between 7 June and 14 June of the previous year, White engaged in a week-long conversation with an undercover officer posing as a child. The prosecution reported that White expressed a desire to meet the girl at a local Burger King with the intent of getting her pregnant and having sexual relations in a park. He referred to the 12-year-old as a “sexy lady,” declared his love for her, and instructed her to delete their messages to evade her mother’s detection.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that the exchanges rapidly became sexualised, with White sending explicit images and a video of himself to the decoy. Following his arrest at his home in Grangefield, Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland Police discovered 19 indecent images of children on his phone. The prosecution, led by Paul Cleasby, emphasised that one “horrific” image depicted the rape of a seven-year-old child. Forensic searches of White’s laptop also uncovered search terms confirming a deep interest in child exploitation.
Judge Sean Morris noted that while this was White’s first conviction, his culpability was exceptionally high due to the predatory nature of his planning. The judge noted that the girl White targeted was “in fact a police officer tasked to police the internet.” The prosecution emphasised that White’s attempts to travel to the girl’s hometown and his requests for her home address demonstrated a clear and present danger to minors.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in England, David White was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: 32 months in immediate custody.
- SHPO: A 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are now in effect indefinitely.
- Convictions: Admitted attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and three counts of making indecent photographs of children.
Monitoring and Public Protection
White is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Cleveland Police and the prison estate. Due to the predatory nature of the sting and the discovery of “extreme” abuse material on his devices, his management is subject to high-level oversight by the Public Protection Unit.
As an indefinite member of the Sex Offenders Register, White must comply with mandatory notification requirements regarding his future residence in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham. Authorities state that the 10-year SHPO is a vital measure to restrict his access to internet-enabled devices and prevent further grooming activity. Any breach of his registration conditions, his licence terms, or his SHPO will result in his immediate arrest and return to Teesside Crown Court.
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