Police: Rushden paedophile was a predator

A former teaching assistant who had sex with an underage boy is a predator who left his victim devastated, an officer who investigated the case has said.

Rushden man Daniel Wainwright was spared from prison last week after he was convicted of sexual activity with a child, as first reported by this newspaper.

Northampton Crown Court heard the 39-year-old, of Sartoris Road, took advantage of teenage boy who had confided in him that he was gay.

Although his illegal advances were initially rebuffed by the boy, the defendant kissed the boy some years ago and then began an illegal sexual 'relationship' with him that lasted nearly two years.

Wainwright, who was also the chief executive of an am-dram group, was only caught when someone walked in on the pair together and reported him.

The boy was devastated to hear at that time that the man he believed he was in a relationship with him had, in fact, also been having sex with other people.

When Wainwright made his first court appearance before magistrates, he admitted three counts of sexual activity with a child, covering 12 different occasions. Any sexual activity after that time was considered to be legal and consensual because the boy had turned 16.

A week on from the sentencing Detective Constable Mike Albright, from the Northamptonshire Police's child protection team, said: “Wainwright is a predatory paedophile whose vile behaviour was only discovered when someone walked in on him and the victim and quite rightly reported it to the authorities.

“The impact the grooming, manipulation and abuse has had on the victim cannot be underestimated. Such was the extent of that manipulation, he believed he was in an exclusive, loving relationship and he was devastated to hear the offender was also in a relationship with several other people simultaneously.

“I’d like to commend the victim and his family for their bravery and support throughout what has been a difficult investigation which illustrates how seriously we take reports of this nature. We will always listen to and believe victims and will leave no stone unturned to see that justice is done.”

Wainwright will be on the sex offenders' register for five years and a sexual harm prevention order was also made banning him from joining any groups where children may be present or from working with children.

Specialist officers will be monitoring him to ensure he complies with these restrictions and if there are any breaches he faces a custodial sentence.

In addition to the two-year community order, Wainwright was sentenced to a 50-day rehabilitation requirement, ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work and was given a two-month curfew to run from 8pm to 6am each day.

Judge Rebecca Crane said: "You took advantage of him (the victim), particularly as he confided in you about his sexuality.

"He had believed this was a loving relationship but he became aware you were having a sexual relationship with other people.

"It's clear it's affected him terribly. It's affected his friendships with other people. You saw this as a consensual relationship but, given his age, he couldn't consent."

Message from the editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the highest standards in the world. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers and consequently the advertising that we receive.

We are now more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you