A 44-year-old man from Uckfield has been sentenced to 14 years imprisonment after admitting to sexually assaulting a child while employed by an NHS trust.
David Newsom, who resided in Regency Close, appeared at Lewes Crown Court on March 26 where he received his sentence. The court heard he had previously entered guilty pleas at an earlier hearing held at the same venue on January 7, 2026.
The IT manager for South East Coast Ambulance Service faced eight charges relating to offences committed against a young male over approximately eight years. The victim was a child of about 10 when the abuse commenced in 2017. The most recent incident occurred just one month before Newsom’s arrest.
Police officers took Newsom into custody on November 18 last year following reports of serious sexual crimes. Charges were approved the subsequent morning, and he was brought before Brighton Magistrates’ Court where custody was imposed.
His employer stated that upon learning of the allegations, they immediately suspended Newsom and later dismissed him following an internal review. It is understood he joined the organisation in 2016.
The investigation was supervised by Detective Constable Nandi Luthuli, who expressed that the outcome demonstrated the significance of victims reporting abuse. She commented that without the victim’s willingness to disclose the prolonged mistreatment, the behaviour could have persisted undetected. She added that those responsible for crimes against children would face full investigations and consequences. Addressing potential future victims, she stated that authorities would hear their accounts, that coming forward carried no disgrace, and that silence should never be mandatory. She expressed hope that although the harm could not be erased, the case conclusion might enable the victim to begin recovery.
A representative for the ambulance trust confirmed swift action upon notification and stated that following a comprehensive process, employment was ended. The spokesperson conveyed sympathy for those impacted and indicated support for the court’s decision, emphasising that such conduct contradicted the standards expected within the organisation.