A CONVICTED sex offender who has been “striking fear into the hearts of women” in York for years has been jailed for 12 months.

David Karl Hampton, 56, made sexually explicit and threatening comments to two lone women in 20 minutes in the city centre, York Magistrates Court heard.

He has at least 30 previous convictions for sexual offences and has previously been jailed for accosting a woman at York Railway Station. He spoke quietly in her ear, telling her what he would do sexually to her.

In her personal statement to the court, one of his latest victims said: “The thought that this man is wandering the streets at night makes me fearful for my own safety and the safety of any other woman walking alone.

“As a result of his actions, I do not feel safe or relaxed in my own home or walking around my local area. This feeling of fear will stay with me, I know that it will take me a long time to regain the confidence to walk on my own."

Read her full, harrowing, statement here. 

Hampton, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to two offences of using threatening words and behaviour, two of failure to comply with the requirements of the sex offenders' register and one of failure to attend court. He was jailed for 12 months, the maximum sentence possible at any magistrates court.

The court heard Hampton approached two women separately. The first was in Micklegate and the second 20 minutes later in Queen Street in the early hours of September 24.

On hearing his words, both women walked away and rang police.

By 2am the same night, officers found and arrested Hampton.

Police staff investigator Anne Yates, of the York and Selby investigation hub, said: “David Karl Hampton is a sexual predator, and these offences are entirely sexually motivated.

“The deeply disturbing and sickening words he used towards his victims made the women believe he was going to carry out his threats.

“Hampton has been terrorising lone women for years and these incidents occurred at a time when the safety of women and girls is at the forefront of the public's minds.

“He has been striking fear into the hearts of women which cannot be allowed to continue. North Yorkshire Police will do everything within its power to stop him and others like him.”

Because he is on the sex offenders' register, Hampton has to tell them of any address he uses and certain other personal information and report to them regularly if he is homeless.