AARON WHITE REPEATEDLY VIOLATES SEXUAL OFFENCES ORDER IN MIDDLESBROUGH

In a troubling series of events in Middlesbrough, Aaron White, a 24-year-old man with a history of sexual offences, has once again found himself behind bars after breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) shortly after his release from prison. The breaches occurred just days apart and involved interactions with children that were explicitly prohibited under the terms of his legal restrictions.

White’s criminal history includes a conviction for engaging in sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl, a fact that was not known to the parents of four children with whom he later interacted. According to prosecutor Deborah Smithies, White was released from custody in January, and merely thirteen days later, he unexpectedly visited a family’s home. During this visit, he spent several hours with the four children, the youngest of whom was only nine years old. The parents of these children were unaware of White’s criminal background, and they did not realize that he was subject to a SOPO that barred him from contact with minors under 18 without professional supervision.

Further breaches occurred in April when White accompanied two other families on a trip to Redcar. During this outing, he was present with eight children, and they spent approximately two hours on the beach. These incidents were brought to light during a hearing at Teesside Crown Court, where it was emphasized that White’s actions directly contravened the restrictions imposed by his SOPO.

Miss Smithies highlighted the gravity of the breaches, stating, “He was playing with the children. One father said later that he did not know of the background, and the mother of four of the children said that she had not been aware of his convictions.” The court was told that White’s mother, Anne, had died in February 2008 after being stabbed by her estranged husband, Douglas Gary Vinter. In May 2010, when White received his SOPO, he openly admitted that he needed help and counseling to address his issues.

Defense lawyer Yvonne Taylor expressed remorse on behalf of White, stating that her client was sorry for any distress caused. She added that White was eager to move forward with his life, mentioning that his new partner had a seven-year-old daughter and had expressed her desire to maintain a relationship with him and live together. However, the court was informed that the existing order was problematic, as many of White’s friends had families and children, making compliance difficult.

In response, Recorder Jonathan Bennett ordered modifications to the SOPO, including a new condition that allowed White to have contact with children only with the consent of the child's parent or guardian, who must also be aware of White’s convictions and restrictions. The judge condemned White’s repeated violations, noting the seriousness of his breaches while on license and describing the offences as having significant aggravating features.

White, residing at The Crescent in Middlesbrough, was ultimately sentenced to 15 months in prison after pleading guilty to two breaches of the SOPO. His case underscores the ongoing challenges in managing offenders with prior convictions and the importance of strict enforcement of protective orders to safeguard vulnerable children.