Paul Clemmett

Paul Clemmett, a 53-year-old man from Sherburn Hill, was sentenced to a total of 15 years' imprisonment at Durham Crown Court in 2025 for a series of historic sexual offences against two children, including rape and causing or inciting sexual activity. Clemmett, who had previously been convicted in 2023 of possessing four indecent images of children—including two in the most serious category—received an 18-month community order for those earlier offences.

The court learned that Clemmett initially denied the allegations of sexual touching when interviewed by police in June 2018, providing no comment responses. Further interviews followed, but he again remained silent. However, when he appeared before the court recently, Clemmett admitted six charges: five counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and one count of rape. During the admissions, he confessed to being a 'paedophile' and provided details to police about the young ages of his victims at the time, which worsened his case. The offences dated back several years, with no further offending reported since.

Defence barrister Robin Patton noted the unusual nature of the case, stating, 'It’s extremely unusual to have a historic offence admitted and investigated by the authorities over many years, and there has been no offending since.' Patton added that Clemmett had voluntarily engaged with a foundation working with sex offenders to address his proclivities since making his admissions.

Judge Richard Bennett addressed Clemmett directly: 'You are a man with a deviant sexual interest in children.' He described the offences as 'monstrous' but acknowledged the defendant's expressed 'deep shame'. The sentence comprised ten years for the rape offence—requiring two-thirds to be served—followed consecutively by five years for the other offences, with half of that to be served. A one-year extended licence period was added, and release would be determined by the Parole Board. Clemmett was made subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and must register as a sex offender for life.