A Whitby man has been handed a five-year restraining order and placed on the register of sex offenders for a decade after pleading guilty to sexual assault on a woman.
David Robert Welham, 36, of Abbots Road, admitted the offence at York Crown Court on Tuesday (3 February 2026) before a trial was due to start.
The incident happened during the early hours of 9 August 2024 when Welham forced himself on the woman in her own home.
She made a report to North Yorkshire Police and Welham was arrested that afternoon and subsequently charged with the offence.
Welham continually denied sexually touching the woman without her consent.
However, he changed his plea to guilty just before a trial was about to start on Tuesday this week.
As well as the five-year restraining order to protect the victim and being placed on the register of sex offenders for 10 years, Welham was also handed a 10-month custodial sentence suspended for 18 months.
He will go to prison if he fails to comply with all requirements under the supervision of the Probation Service.
This includes carrying out 200 hours of unpaid work within the next 12 months.
Police Staff Investigator Dexy Clarkson, from Scarborough and Ryedale CID, said:
“Welham finally admitted his guilt to sexually assaulting the woman and has been dealt with by the courts.
“I hope the victim can now begin to move on from this deeply upsetting experience. I have nothing but praise for her bravery throughout this case.”
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