Rushden man sentenced for grooming underage boy into sexual activity



A former primary school teaching assistant from Rushden who groomed an underage schoolboy into sexual activity has avoided a prison sentence
On Friday, Northampton Crown Court heard that Daniel Wainwright, 39, had taken advantage of a young boy who had confided in him that he was gay.
Although his perverted advances were initially rebuffed by the boy, the defendant kissed the boy some years ago and then groomed him into an illegal sexual ‘relationship’ that lasted nearly two years.
The court also heard that award-winning Wainwright worked as a primary school teaching assistant in the county at the time and was also the CEO of an am-dram group, where he regularly directed productions as well as played the pantomime dame.
Prosecuting barrister, Kaja Reiff-Musgrove, said that Wainwright, of Sartoris Road, Rushden, was only caught out when someone walked in on him and the boy together and reported him to the authorities.
When he 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.
Judge Rebecca Crane said: “You took advantage of him (the victim), particularly as he confided in you about his sexuality”
Wainwright was sentenced to a two-year community order with a 50-day rehabilitation requirement. He was also ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work and was given a two-month curfew to run from 8pm to 6am each day.
He will be placed on the sex offenders’ register for five years and a sexual harm prevention order was made banning him from joining any groups where children may be present or from working with children.