ADAM WHITE FROM BUCKNALL JAILED FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES INVOLVING UNDERAGE GIRL IN STOKE-ON-TRENT

In May 2019, Adam White, a former physical education teacher from Bucknall, was sentenced to prison after being found guilty of grooming and engaging in sexual activity with a minor girl he met through social media. The incident took place in Stoke-on-Trent, where White had volunteered in the sports department of a local high school.

White, aged 22 and residing on Staveley Grove in Bucknall, had initially connected with the girl via Facebook after his involvement at the school. The court heard that he sent her a friend request on Facebook, and the two exchanged messages. Subsequently, White asked her to add him on Snapchat, which she did. The communication escalated to the point where White arranged to meet her in a secluded alleyway in Bucknall.

According to the court proceedings, White met the girl in the alley after she had told her mother she was meeting a friend and requested a lift. During their encounter, White engaged in sexual contact and kissing with the girl. Although she appeared to be comfortable initially, she was not happy with what followed. White proceeded to undo her jeans, and although she did not verbally protest, she felt upset and uncomfortable. The situation then escalated further, with White having sexual intercourse with the girl.

Following the incident, the girl reported the assault to the police. White was promptly arrested and initially denied having met or engaged in any sexual activity with the victim. The court was informed that White had a prior criminal record, including five convictions for inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, all related to the same school. Despite previous convictions and a community order, White continued to pose a risk, and the court noted that if the authorities had been aware of this latest offense earlier, he would have faced imprisonment.

As part of his sentence, White was sentenced to four years and three months in prison after pleading guilty to sexual activity with a child. Additionally, he will be subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and will remain on the sex offenders’ register for life. The judge, David Fletcher, emphasized the severity of White’s actions, stating that he was involved in the school’s PE department and that the victim believed him to be a teacher. The judge also highlighted that White was aware of police interviews related to allegations made by other girls at the school, all of whom had complained about inappropriate social media contact. The court described the offense as having a significant element of planning and grooming, noting the vulnerability of the young victim involved.