JAMES PINKERTON FROM SHERBURN FACES SUSPENDED SENTENCE AFTER SEXUAL ABUSE CASE AT DURHAM CROWN COURT

In a case that has spanned over four decades, the serious allegations against James Pinkerton, a resident of Sherburn Village near Durham, have finally come to light. The case involves the sexual abuse of three younger children, incidents that reportedly took place during Pinkerton's youth in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

It was only in 2015 that Pinkerton, then aged around 60, decided to come forward and report the abuse to the police. This revelation shocked the community and prompted further investigations, which confirmed allegations made by two other victims. Despite initial denials when questioned by authorities, Pinkerton’s stance changed dramatically on the day his case was scheduled for trial at Durham Crown Court.

On that day, Pinkerton, who was previously considered to be of good character, entered a plea of guilty to three counts of indecent assault. His change of plea marked a significant development in the case, which had been expected to proceed to a full trial. The court was informed that Pinkerton, of The Crescent, Sherburn Village, had no prior criminal record and was generally regarded as a person of good standing in his community.

A probation report, which was read aloud during the sentencing hearing, provided context about Pinkerton’s age and mental state at the time of the offences. It described him as being young and sexually inexperienced during the incidents, with the report’s author classifying his risk of re-offending as low to medium. The report also noted that the offences appeared to be opportunistic, with very little grooming or premeditation involved. Instead, Pinkerton was said to have engineered situations to be alone with the victims.

During the hearing, Michael Hodson, representing Pinkerton, emphasized that his client’s immaturity and youth at the time were significant factors. He also pointed out that Pinkerton had not committed any similar offences since then, suggesting a lack of ongoing predatory behavior.

It was revealed that Pinkerton had maintained employment throughout his adult life until his retirement last year, which was partly due to anxiety—an issue that was exacerbated by the impending legal case. The court took these factors into account when sentencing.

Judge Simon Hickey sentenced Pinkerton to 22 months in prison, suspended for two years. Additionally, Pinkerton was placed under an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and was required to register as a sex offender. These measures aim to monitor and prevent any potential future offending, reflecting the seriousness with which the court viewed the case and the impact on the victims and community.