DAVID RISPIN FROM ACOMB SENTENCED TO 19 YEARS IN PRISON FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE NEAR PICKERING

In September 2017, David Michael Rispin, a man with a disturbing history of sexual offenses against children, was sentenced to a lengthy prison term of 19 years at York Crown Court for his heinous crimes involving two young victims. This conviction marked the second time Rispin, aged 54, faced incarceration for offenses of a similar nature, highlighting a troubling pattern of predatory behavior.

Rispin’s previous conviction dates back to 1999, when he was sentenced to five years in prison for a serious sexual offense committed against a young child. Despite this prior conviction, he continued to engage in criminal acts against minors, which ultimately led to his latest conviction. The court heard harrowing details of how Rispin exploited two children over a period of several years, grooming them for his own sexual gratification. The judge, Andrew Stubbs QC, described Rispin as a “predatory paedophile” who systematically manipulated his victims, taking advantage of opportunities to isolate them and then abusing their trust.

Judge Stubbs emphasized the calculated and cynical nature of Rispin’s crimes, noting that he used threats, force, and bribery—such as offering money and chocolates—to silence the children and prevent them from reporting the abuse. The judge stated, “You, as a predatory paedophile, groomed them over a period of years and over a long period of years, taking opportunities presented to you to get them on their own and then use them for your own purposes. It is plain from the offences, calculating and cynically you used threats of punishment, force and bribery by way of monies and chocolates to leave them powerless to make a complaint.”

The impact of Rispin’s actions was described as devastating by the court, with both victims providing personal statements that revealed they remain deeply affected by the abuse even years later. The court heard that Rispin, who had lived in Acomb for a time after his first jail term before relocating to Tinley Gardens, Kirkbymoorside, near Pickering, denied multiple charges, including three counts of rape, three alternative charges of indecent assault, and seven additional counts of indecent assault.

After a seven-day trial, the jury found Rispin guilty of one count of rape, one of the alternative indecent assault charges, and all seven counts of indecent assault. He was acquitted of the remaining charges. All of these offenses occurred before his previous five-year sentence was served, indicating a pattern of offending that persisted despite prior punishment.

In addition to his 19-year prison sentence, Rispin was ordered to register as a sex offender for life. He was also subjected to a sexual harm prevention order, which prohibits him from contacting his victims, residing in the same household as any child under 16, or having any contact with children under 16 unless explicitly permitted by social services and under strict conditions. During the trial, Rispin gave evidence but showed no visible reaction when the jury returned its verdicts, marking the second time a jury has convicted him of such crimes.

His legal representative, Nicholas de la Poer, did not offer mitigation for his client. The victims, who attended the court proceedings, listened as the jury deliberated for more than six hours before delivering their verdicts, underscoring the gravity of the case.

In a related matter from September 2004, Rispin, then aged 41 and residing in Acomb, appeared before York Crown Court after failing to register his new address with police, a requirement for sex offenders. He had previously been sentenced to five years for a serious sexual offense involving a seven-year-old boy. Upon release on parole in December 2002, Rispin was placed in a hostel while authorities assessed his risk level before allowing him to return to his home on Danebury Drive, Acomb.

Despite being on the sex offenders’ register for life and required to report any address changes to police, Rispin wilfully refused to register his new address. Recorder Geoffrey Marson QC warned him that such non-compliance could result in imprisonment. Rispin, who was unemployed at the time, admitted to the failure and received a two-year conditional discharge along with an order to pay £250 in prosecution costs. His barrister, Richard Mansell, argued that the offense was merely technical, asserting that police were aware of his whereabouts and that Rispin had not attempted to evade supervision.