A man who molested a minor on several occasions and performed indecent acts on himself in her presence has been sentenced to six years in jail by the Grand Court.
Sitting in the dock on Friday, 2 Aug., Richard Whittingham listened in silence as Justice Cheryll Richards handed down various jail sentences for three counts of molestation following his conviction in April for charges of assault by penetration, gross indecency and engaging in sexual acts in the presence of a minor.
During the three-day, judge-alone trial, the court heard that the 15-year-old victim was known to Whittingham, who molested her and performed lewd acts on her on multiple occasions when she was in his care between 1 Jan. 2018 and 21 July 2021.
Details of the assault are said to have come to light after the child’s mother and teachers noticed a change in her behaviour, which prompted them to ask questions.
Whittingham refuted the allegations and maintained his innocence at trial, claiming instead that the child had been instructed to make the allegations by a third party.
For the charge of assault by penetration, Richards returned a sentence of five-and-a-half-years. For the charges of gross indecency and performing a sexual act in the presence of a minor, she handed down sentences of six years.
During the sentencing, Richards made note of Whittingham’s attorney’s remarks that no sentence could be worse than the embarrassment experienced by his stumble and fall from grace.
However, Richards told Whittingham, “Much of this you have brought onto yourself.”
She added, “Your conduct and what you did towards that child … the blame and responsibility lies with you.”
Richards ordered that all three sentences were to run concurrently, meaning Whittingham will have to serve a term of six years.
A sexual harm prevention order was also imposed against him and is to last five years upon his release from prison. The order requires that he have no contact with the victim, whether direct or indirect, and is not to go within 100 metres of her.
Whittingham, who is originally of Jamaica and has lived in Cayman more than 20 years, is expected to be deported upon completion of his sentence.
As he was led to the cells below the court in handcuffs, he could be heard weeping loudly.
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6 years isn’t enough for ruining the rest of this poor girl’s life.