Search results for Durham

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A SHOCKED mother discovered her 12-year-old daughter had exchanged sexualised messages and swapped indecent images with an older teenage boy, a court heard. Durham Crown Court was told she became concerned at her daughters secretive behaviour, being unwilling to allow her to scrutinise her phone early last year. When she finally insisted on checking its contents, she came across an unrecognised phone number and was told it was a mutual friend. It emerged her daughter had been exchanging messages via a chat room and text with a male, Shaun Williams, then aged 17, in which he inquired about intimate matters and asking her to send him sexual photographs, as well as mentioning that they should meet. Jane Waugh, prosecuting, said the girls mother immediately stopped her daughter communicating with Williams and inquired as to the nature of the photographs. The girl said he sent her pictures of his naked genitals and asked her to reciprocate. It was reported to police, who arrested Williams and seized his phone for analysis. Miss Waugh said the flavour of the messages became apparent, with Williams referring to the girl as, Babes, asking her about performing sexual acts. The exchanged pictures included one sent by the girl of herself in her underwear. Williams, now 18, of Westbourne Street, Stockton, admitted causing or inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity. The case was adjourned for preparation of a psychiatric report on the defendant. Chris Baker, mitigating, said the author was unable to confirm if Williams was on the autistic spectrum, but pointed to, other personality issues, as well as an adjustment disorder. But Mr Baker said he had jeopardised his future by his behaviour, having already affected his education. Judge Ray Singh said, in essence there was a form of grooming of a 12-year-old girl, which only ended when her mother discovered the nature of the messages. The judge said although Williams has some mental health issues, in my view these do not provide meaningful mitigation. He imposed a two-year sentence in a young offenders institution and ordered that Williams should be subject to restrictions under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, as well as registration as a sex offender, both for ten years.

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A MAN instigated online grooming exercises with what he thought were underage girls, a court was told.

In reality, John Taylor, then 59, fell for decoy social media profiles posted by different paedophile-hunting groups and the girls, Natalie, 14, and Ellie, 13, did not exist.

Durham Crown Court was told the unemployed lorry driver sent them hundreds of messages, initially appearing kind and friendly, asking them about school and relationships with their parents, warning one to be careful when communicating with young lads, as they would try to, get her into bed.

He became more romantic, sending heart, cuddly animal and bouquet emojis, telling them he considered them to be his girlfriend.

But in each case the messaging became more sexualised, asking for photographs, and he tried to arrange to meet one, suggesting a car park rendezvous, but urging her to, keep it quiet.

Paul Newcombe, prosecuting, said both vigilante groups, Action for Kids North-West and Guardians of the North, informed police and Taylor was arrested.

In interview he gave no comment answers to relevant questions.

Taylor was charged with three counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, two involving one of the profiles as it included three phone calls.

Now aged 62, the defendant, of Dean Street, Shildon, admitted all three counts.

He was said to have nine previous offences on his record, but none since 2006.

A probation report said Taylor requires specific programme work to address the risk he poses of reoffending.

Judge James Adkin said due to the sexualised nature of some messages, it, crosses the custody threshold.

Amrit Jandoo, for Taylor, said it was accepted it could result in a prison sentence, but urged Judge Adkin to go along with the recommendation of the probation report.

Agreeing, Judge Adkin said he would suspend a nine-month prison sentence, for two years, but Taylor must attend 40 probation-led rehabilitation activity days to address his behaviour.

Taylor must observe a six-month 7pm to 7am home curfew, while he will also be subject to restrictions under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and registration as a sex offender, both for ten years.

Judge Adkin told him if he complies with the orders that would be the end of the matter, after two years, but any breaches would see him back before the court, facing an immediate prison sentence.

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A judge ruled that Stephen Midgley, 27, is a 'dangerous offender' and gave him an extended 10 year sentence A "dangerous" paedophile was caught with hundreds of child abuse images - some showing 'distressed' tots as young as two. A judge ruled that repeat offender Stephen Midgley, 27, poses a high risk of re-offending, with a "fixation on pre-pubescent girls", and gave him an extended 10 year prison sentence. Teesside Crown Court heard the collection of images showed sexual abuse of kids, some mere toddlers, with many of the horrific details too graphic to publish. Prosecutor Harry Hadfield said two mobile phones belonging to the defendant had been found to contain child abuse images, including two-and-a-half hours of video in the most serious category. It was also discovered he was using an email address to send "depraved" images to another pervert. Images on the second seized mobile phone included pictures of boys and girls being abused, ranging from ages two to 11. Midgley appeared to be sentenced for 12 offences in total - three counts of making indecent images of children, three counts of distributing indecent images of children, one of failing to comply with a notification requirement, two breaches of a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) and three of possessing indecent photographs. He pleaded guilty to the offences. Midgley was previously locked up for three years and four months in 2015 after being caught downloading and sending pictures and videos of child abuse for the second time in 18 months. Stephen Constantine, mitigating, said a psychological report had found his client had an IQ of just 71, "had it been one less he would have been somebody who came within a category of learning disabled", he said. He said: "This defendant's main mitigation is his guilty plea in respect of each count." He added: "Having been caught he has assisted. "On each occasion he has told police there are images on the phone. "He hasn't sought to hide anything, beside hiding the initial phones." He asked the court not to class him as a dangerous offender and say this is the "last chance saloon". But pointing to the psychological report and Midgley's previous offences, judge Stephen Ashurst said he was a "dangerous offender" and would be getting an extended prison term. He said: "The images are of a particularly depraved nature. "They include the rape and abuse of very young children indeed by adult offenders." Midgley, of Leybourn Terrace, Stockton, was ordered to serve six years in custody, plus fours years on licence for distributing indecent images. He was also given a two year concurrent sentence for the other offences. A new SHPO was made indefinitely.

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A 69-year-old man who forced his hand down a teenager's trousers and forced her to perform a sex act on him has been jailed, more than a decade after the attack.

Henry Spark was on his way to work as a delivery driver in April 2008 when he spotted a lone female walking in the dark at around 3am.

He pulled over to offer her a lift and within minutes of her entering the car was grabbing her hand and pulling it towards his groin.

After driving for a few minutes Spark pulled over and forced the then 17-year-old to perform a sex act on him.

The teenager reported the incident to police the following day but DNA taken from the victim's clothes did not match any on record.

However when Spark was convicted of another sex offence in 2018, his DNA matched this historic unsolved case.

After initially denying ever having a girl in his car, he accepted that he did pick the teenager up but argued that she consented to the sexual activity.

He was convicted of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent, assault by penetration and sexual assault at Durham Crown Court after a two-day trial.

In a statement read out to the court the victim said: "I want to articulate as best as I can how I have felt over the last ten years. Since it happened I know I am not the same person.

"I had a naive and childish belief in people. I thought trustworthy people were outwardly visible, I was not sceptical of everybody as I am now.

"I feel emotionally down, and want to stop thinking about how genuinely terrified I was for my life. I want to go to sleep without reliving that night.

"I have done my very best to spend time alone in public so I can prove to myself that being outside the house is not scary enough to warrant palm sweats and heart palpitations. I have to tell myself that eventually I will get used to being outside how I used to be but I have had no improvements.

"I hope one day I can look back at what happened and not feel so raw about it and move on with my day to day life."

Richard Bennett, prosecuting, said Spark was convicted for possessing and making indecent images of children in January last year when he was given an eight month custodial sentence, suspended for two years. He also has a historic conviction of exposing himself in 1973.

HHJ Jonathan Carroll said: "I am satisfied that by the time she [the victim] got into the car you were determined to have a sexual encounter with or without her consent."

Spark, of Victor Street, Chester-Le-Street, was jailed for three years for all counts.

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John Edward Kilgannon, 66, sat behind his victims and reached through the gap between the bus seats in front of him to "stroke" the girls on their sides for periods lasting up to 20 minutes.

A court heard the perv committed the three offences between October and November last year on the Arriva bus service from Middlesbrough to Peterlee, County Durham.

One 17-year-old victim complained to police and CCTV evidence led to Kilgannon's arrest at his home in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham.

But on Friday the warped sex fiend dodged jail at Teeside Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to three counts of sexual assault.

Paul Harrison, chairman of the bench, said he took such matters "very seriously" but gave Kilgannon a two-year community order and ordered him to pay each victim 200 in compensation.

Paul Power, prosecuting, said the pensioner had been drinking on each occasion and admitted he stroked the girls "for his sexual pleasure".

One of the teenagers said the vile assault had a "huge impact from a confidence point of view in terms of public transport".

She added in her victim impact statement she "felt uncomfortable" when men looked at her.

The second victim said she missed a number of days of college and was "nervous around older men" following the attack.

Liz McGowan, defending, said her client had been a man of previous good character,

She added: He tells me that drink is something that has lessoned his inhibitions while on the bus.

Hes not saying its solely the drinks fault. Hes saying he did this for his own sexual pleasure.

He is remorseful he says that. He has not repeated his behaviour.

For some unknown reason he was bailed by police from November 26 until March 7 almost four months hes had this on his mind for all that time.

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A brute who terrorised, molested and strangled a woman until she saw "my life flashing before me" has started a mammoth prison sentence.

The survivor of violent stalker and sex attacker Brian Fenny feared she would die at his hands.

Today she sent a stirring message to women as she saw him brought to justice for his horrific crimes.

In a moving statement, she said: "The women of Stockton are now safe.

"It might help other women realise that they can do something about their situations.

"There's help out there for them."

The woman said she had been physically, mentally and sexually abused and faced a terrifying "life or death" situation.

"On the night when he crept through my window as I slept and strangled me, I felt like it would be my last day," she added.

"When he decided to remove his belt and put it around my neck I actually saw my life flashing before me.

"How I managed to get to the window and scream for help I will never know."

Fenny, 51, went to her home shouting and screaming, ripped off her clothing and sexually assaulted her, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor Jo Kidd said he was still in her home sitting calmly when police turned up.

The woman was distraught and hysterical with reddening to her throat and a bite mark to her arm.

She told officers he had strangled her and bit her when she tried to defend herself.

The arrogant attacker said as he was arrested: "Don't worry. It'll be nfa'd (no further action)."

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, did not make a formal statement so the case did not proceed at that time.

But Fenny's vile bullying did not end there.

He persistently texted her with abusive and threatening messages and obsessively stalked her via Facebook.

In just 10 days he made 485 searches trying to find information about her and her friends.

Undeterred by being spoken to by police, he followed her calling her names.

He invaded her home and attacked her again after spouting drunken, aggressive verbal abuse at her in a pub.

She awoke to find him on top of her strangling her as she passed in and out of consciousness.

At one point she came around and found his belt around her neck. He told her she would die.

She managed to free herself and called 999. Bizarrely, he waited for police again, calm and composed while she was hysterical.

Fenny, of Dovecot Street, central Stockton, admitted sexual assault, assault causing actual bodily harm, aggravated burglary, stalking and making a threat to kill.

He had a previous conviction for harassment.

Judge Sean Morris ruled Fenny was a dangerous offender and gave him a 20-year extended sentence.

The sentence consists of a 16-year jail term plus four years' extended licence.

He was given a restraining order and will be on the sex offenders' register, both indefinitely.

Detective Constable Shaun Watson, the investigating officer, said today: I am pleased with the sentence handed to Brian Fenny which reflects the severity of the crimes that he has committed.

The victim has shown great courage by coming forward to police as she has suffered a terrible ordeal.

"Throughout the complex investigation and the trial, the victim has maintained strength throughout and I would like to commend her for her bravery.

I hope the sentence handed to Fenny will bring some comfort to the victim as she attempts to move forward with her life.

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A CONVICTED sex offender who lost everything when his partner discovered his past is now behind bars after an anonymous phone call to the NSPCC revealed a second victim. James Harcourt was given a community rehabilitation order in 2003 for having sex with an underage girl when he was 19. Later, he started a relationship with a different underage girl although no complaint was ever made to the police. But in the summer of 2016, a call was made to the childrens charity expressing concerns about what had happened years earlier, Teesside Crown Court heard. Harcourt, now 35, was said to have been violent and controlling when he was with the girl, who then learned about his earlier conviction. The pair stopped seeing one another when Harcourt got jealous about the teenager being close to somebody else. He moved on and started dating a woman in her 40s, prosecutor Richard Bennett told the court. But when she found out about his past with the teenager, she ended their relationship. Dan Cordey, mitigating, told the court: His new partner was horrified by what she had been told. Because he has been unable to provide a supervisor for the contact, he has not seen his children since then, since 2016. He has lost contact with his children. He has lost his relationship and his home, and although he has managed to keep working for some time, since last December when he went on the sick, he has now lost his job. Against that background, when he came to this court, what Mr Harcourt did was to fully accept what had gone on. He didnt seek to make excuses or prevaricate about his plea. For a man who has effectively lost everything, he could have been tempted to take a chance. He didnt do that. He was honest to the court. James Harcourt now recognises what he did was absolutely wrong. The probation report states he had a romantic view of the relationship. At the time, he was growing up, he recognises now he had problems. He would wish me to stress, as a mature adult, he has lived a blameless life in the sense that he settled down, had relationships with adult women, one of whom has born him children, and for 13 years, he worked, worked hard, and provided for his family. Harcourt, of Chandos Street, Darlington, admitted seven charges of sexual activity with a child, and was jailed for ten-and-a-half years. Judge Sean Morris told him: You were delaying your guilty plea for quite some time, and not accepting your guilt from the start just caused more heartache to your victim. The result of your actions means you have not seen your sons for a considerable amount of time. It is not just your life you have wrecked, it is those children.

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Hewad Shivzad - who falsely claimed to be 19 - forced himself on the very young girl, described by a judge as a blameless, innocent child A vile sexual abuser who raped and molested a very young girl has been caged for 15 years. Hewad Shivzad isolated the primary school-age girl and lured her away to subject her to a sexual attack lasting 30 to 40 minutes. He ignored her pleas for him to stop, sexually assaulted her and forced himself on her, Teesside Crown Court heard. A judge said the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was a blameless, charming, innocent and "innately kind" girl. Prosecutor Aisha Wadoodi said: "The child is particularly vulnerable." She read out a moving statement from the girl's mother, who said: "I'm worried that this will have ruined her life." The mum said the rape massively affected her daughter, leading to anger, violent behaviour and harming herself. "We are really struggling as a family," she added. "She talks about what happened all the time. I think that she's depressed. I really need some help for her." 'I feel that this has ruined our lives' She added: "I'm also suffering depression. I feel distraught about what has happened to (my daughter) and our family. "I feel that this has ruined our lives. We need help and justice. "I want to move somewhere else but I can't do this." Shivzad - who claimed to be 19, to the disbelief of his sentencing judge - denied the rape and sexual assault from August last year. 'She was particularly vulnerable' He was convicted by a jury after a trial this week, and appeared for sentence via video link to Durham Prison. Victoria Lamballe, defending, said: "There is really nothing that I can say on this defendant's behalf. "There are no mitigating features that I can draw to your Honour's attention." Judge Howard Crowson told Shivzad, of Suffolk Street, Oxbridge , Stockton : "She was particularly vulnerable to your attack being so very young. "Despite her asking you to stop, you continued your effort to have full sexual intercourse with her. "Mercifully she was not left with lasting physical injuries. Charming, innocent and blameless "She was left scared and confused by an act which she did not understand, and it continues to affect her. "She is a charming, innocent little girl." He said Shivzad showed no concern for the girl: "You cared nothing for the possible effect on her future. "One day she will be old enough to realise the nature of the acts you committed upon her. "We should all hope she will find comfort in the knowledge that her parents and everyone who heard her know she was telling the truth and was blameless." Claim to be 19 rejected by judge He jailed Shivzad for 15 years, plus a year's additional supervision. The Parole Board will decide whether it is safe to release him after he has served half of his sentence. Turning to the issue of Shivzad's age, the judge said: "He claims to be 19. I don't believe him. "If he were 19 he should be in a young offenders' institution. My view is he should be in prison. "He's obviously older than 21. But the Prison Service will have to judge where to keep him." He told Shivzad: "You maintain that you are a 19-year-old man. I've seen no documents to support that claim and to my eyes you appear substantially older. "It's my view that your claim to be so young is a lie told when you entered the UK in March 2017 to claim asylum." 'Preyed on a young girl' Shivzad was given a sexual harm prevention order banning unsupervised contact with under-16s and a restraining order banning contact with the victim or two other named people, or speaking of them on social media - both indefinitely. He will be on the sex offenders' register for life, and could face deportation to Afghanistan. Inspector Mark Haworth from Cleveland Police said: Firstly I would like to thank the victim and her family for their courage in coming forward to police and their bravery throughout these court proceedings. "Shivzad preyed on a young girl and he was tirelessly hunted down so that he could be brought to justice for his despicable actions. This case is another example of great work by Cleveland Police child abuse investigation unit, whereby the team were able to track down Shivzad despite his attempts to avoid police and put him before the courts, where he has been handed a lengthy jail sentence and he will now have to live with the consequences of his actions. "Other vulnerable victims will now be protected from him for a considerable length of time.

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A NAKED student who indecently exposed himself to dozens of women for sexual thrills has heard how his perverted behaviour was “creepy” and “disturbing”.

Ali Hassan, 18, was caught by police after finding a till receipt and an empty packet of Haribo sweets he had discarded along a secluded riverside path he frequented to startle his victims.

The teenager, of Musgrave Gardens, Durham, would wear just his running shoes to run alongside women jogging next to the River Wear after spying on them from bushes.

Between April and June last year, Hassan exposed himself to a number of women of various ages who were running near the Durham Rowing Club and Maiden Castle sports complex.

Hassan was arrested after police officers used the empty sweet packet and till receipt to pinpoint the shop and date they were purchased, ultimately leading them to identify the pervert via CCTV.

He pleaded guilty to six counts of exposure before magistrates in Newton Aycliffe yesterday.

Emma Shea, prosecuting, read several victim impact statements to the court, with many witnesses echoing how they found Hassan’s behaviour “shocking” and “concerning”.

One statement read: “I was quite shocked especially since media reports came out that this is not a one-off incident – it makes it more creepy.” 

Another reported: “I’ve not returned to the area to run as a result of this incident. I’ve never seen anything like what I saw that day. I’m scared to be in that area and when I walked nearby recently, I felt on edge. It’s disturbing.”

The court heard that Hassan’s family were also shocked by his behaviour, but remain supportive.

Stephen Andrews, mitigating, said: “There are elements of naivety and immaturity in so far as his sexual relationships and relationships with women are concerned.

“He does come across as a very young 18-year-old. He no previous convictions, not so much as a caution, so this is very much out of character.”

Mr Andrews added that there was no suggestion that Hassan performed sex acts in front of the joggers he targeted and would not make comments or threaten them. 

The full-time student was given a 24-month community order and will remain on the sex offenders’ register for five years. He has also been banned from being within five metres of the edge of the River Wear in Durham and must wear at least one item of clothing over his underwear in public.

He must pay £85 court costs and £85 victim surcharge.

Speaking the Northern Echo after the sentence had been passed Hassan said: "I would like to apologise for my foolish behaviour.

"I am guilty of this and take full responsibility. It was nothing but stupid and immature.

"I really regret what I’ve done and that’s not an excuse all.

"It was a mistake and I really just want to get on with my life after I serve my punishment

"I’m getting the help I need." 

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A MAN who preyed on two girls and manipulated them for sex has been jailed for eight years.

Leroy Wesley Allen admitted nine charges of sexual activity with a child on the second day of his trial at Durham Crown Court yesterday.

The court heard how the 22-year-old put pressure on the girls for sex.

Paul Cleasby, prosecuting, told the court how he plied one of the girls with alcohol before taking her virginity.

The girl asked him to stop and said she did not want to have sex with him anymore but Allen did not take the rejection well and “coerced” her into having sex with him on several more occasions.

The court heard how he would often take her mobile phone from her and started controlling her before the girl broke down and told a friend about what had been going on.

However, Allen pleaded with her to keep it a secret which she did.

That was until 2017 when she heard Allen, of Rutherford Court, Willington, had been imprisoned for grooming young girls.

Another girl also came forward to say she had been manipulated by Allen and police were shown text messages where Allen complained that the girl’s sex drive was “miniscule”.

In their victim personal statements, one of the girls said her life was a “nightmare” which led to suicidal thoughts and her being diagnosed with depression.

The second girl also said she had had to have therapy for depression and had not done as well in her exams because of the stress caused.

Allen had been jailed for a year in December 2016 for trying to incite an underage child to engage in sexual activity and trying to facilitate a child sex act.

He posed as the boss of the Durham nightclub Jimmy Allens and askied underage girls to send him pictures of themselves in their underwear or bikinis for potential hostess roles.

Dan Cordy, mitigating, said his client's time in prison had given him time to mature.

He said a psychological report revealed a “troubled young man” who was living his “fantasy life”.

Mr Cordy said the former Nissan production line operative wanted to apologise to both the girls and his family.

Recorder Euan Duff sentenced Allen, who cried throughout, to a total of eight years in prison and made him subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order until further notice.

He also said Allen would be on the Sex Offenders register for the rest of his life.

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A TEENAGER was jailed for four and a half years after admitting a string of sex offences - including raping a 12-year-old girl.

Bradley Hall, 18, from Darlington, was 16 when he asked the girl to his house before having sex with her.

He also had a six-week sexual relationship with a "vulnerable" underage girl when he was 17, which led to her later attempting suicide.

And he had more than 60 indecent images of a 17-year-old girl - itself an offence - on his phone when it was seized, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Sarah Mallett, prosecuting, said the 12-year-old girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had gone to her GP with her mother for emergency contraception and the GP had raised concerns with the police.

Hall had contacted the girl on social media, where she was listed as being 16 but she told him that she was just 12 years old.

Ms Mallett said: "She sent him pictures and they agreed to meet."

After they had sex he asked her to leave because his mother was returning home and she did not see him again. The victim felt he had taken advantage of her because he had told her he loved her.

He then started messaging a 13-year-old - and sent her explicit photos and videos of himself, the court heard, while she sent pictures of herself topless, through social media.

She told him she was 13, but he replied: "Age doesn't matter when you love someone."

The vulnerable 15-year-old victim he had a sexual relationship with had suffered from psychotic episodes, the court was told.

Ms Mallett said: "If she expressed reluctance (to have sex) he would say she was boring."

Richard Bennett, mitigating, said the 12-year-old victim was "a particularly vulnerable child".

But he said: "The defendant took issue that he deliberately targeted her because he didn't know of her background.

"He has pleaded guilty to rape which for any man is a huge thing to do.

"It is going to have a huge impact on the rest of his life. This is a statutory rape charge - this isn't a man who has forced himself on (the 12-year-old girl).

"He realised pretty quickly what he had done was very serious."

Hall has already served nine months on remand in Holme House Prison.

Judge Colin Burn said: "We have seen 14 offences taking place over a fairly narrow period of time when you were 16 going on 17.

"Two of the three girls were certainly extremely vulnerable. The reality is that both of them have suffered significantly. Any pre-existing problems have been made worse as a result of your quest for sexual gratification."

He jailed Hall for four years and six months, ordered his phone to be forfeited and served him with a restraining order and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

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AN immature young farmer is starting a six-year prison sentence following his conviction for the rape and sexual assault of a woman. Durham Crown Court was told that Karl Richard Gibson, then 19, committed the acts, despite the victims protests. The court heard that Gibson protested his innocence on his arrest, last year, and throughout his trial, in late October. Despite still maintaining he has been subject to a miscarriage of justice, the custodial term of five years was imposed for rape, with an added 12-months for one of two sexual assaults for which Gibson was also convicted, when he appeared back at the court, via video link from nearby Durham Prison, at todays (Wednesday December 23) sentencing hearing. David Brooke, prosecuting, read from the victims impact statement in which she said she was left feeling, worthless, and for some time since the incidents she has suffered anxiety attacks and had flashbacks to what took place. Mr Brooke said the woman has since self-harmed and sought psychiatric treatment. But Paul Reid, for Gibson, said the defendant and his family, utterly reject her comments in the statement. Mr Reid claimed that to lay the blame for her psychiatric difficulties, at the defendants door, was, completely unjustified. He was 19 at the time, and is now 20. Were he a couple of years younger, it would be dealt with under far different sentencing guidelines. Although hes now 20, hes only a boy, and spends his time farming up on the fells with his cows. This is one of the most tragic cases I have been involved with, in quarter of a century doing sex cases. Following his conviction his family were in hysterics and couldnt understand what was happening when he was taken to the cells in shackles, being searched, documented and taken off to Durham Prison. Mr Reid urged Recorder Tim Roberts to pass the least sentence possible, according to the guidelines. But, Recorder Roberts said: These offences were, indeed, borne out of immaturity, lack of thought, and inability to think things through in a considered manner. He made Gibson the subject of a ten-year restraining order, forbidding him trying to contact the woman. Gibson, of Marshes Gill Farm, Harwood-in-Teesdale, County Durham, will also be subject to registration as a sex offender indefinitely.

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A MAN who raped a girl with learning difficulties on at least three occasions has been jailed for 18 years.

But as Stephen Mark Rudkin, who, himself, also has mild learning difficulties, is considered to pose a significant risk of committing further similar offences in future, he was also made subject of an extended eight-year licence period.

The effect of the extended sentence means that 25-year-old Rudkin will not be released until the Parole Board consider it safe to do so, only after he has served two-thirds of the 18 years, and he will be subject to licence conditions until the end of the entire 26-year period.

Judge Christopher Prince said it means the public will be protected under the terms of the licence, until Rudkin is aged 51, therefore negating the need for the imposition of a sexual harm prevention order.

He will also be subject to registration as a sex offender for life.

Rudkin, of Ryton Crescent, Seaham, who has a previous caution for consensual sex with a 14-year-old girl, was convicted of two counts of rape after a trial in September.

He denied the charges, but, guilty verdicts were returned by the jury on the fourth day of the trial.

One of the offences was a sample count and the other a specimen charge covering at least two occasions, but Matthew Bean, prosecuting, said it was unclear exactly how many times it took place.

The sentencing hearing was adjourned to enable both psychiatric and probation reports to be drawn up for the court.

Christine Egerton, mitigating, said, although the defendant continued to deny the rape allegations, he has, at least, now conceded that some form of sexual activity took place and is prepared to undergo treatment while behind bars to address his, “inappropriate, dis-inhibiting sexual behaviour”.

Due to the age and vulnerability of the victim, the case was the first in the country to be subject to the remote link facilities in place in Durham.

It meant from the time the complaint was made to police, in May, until the outcome of the trial, the victim did not have to set foot in a police station, hospital or court.

She was taken to the “remote” suite to give her initial recorded interview with police, which was played to the jury at her trial.

The accompanied victim returned there during the trial for cross-examination, but only after the judge and barristers in the case had visited her to help put her at ease.

Miss Egerton, as defence barrister, was only permitted to ask a limited number of questions which were agreed with assistance of a child psychiatrist beforehand.

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A MAN who carried out a sustained sexual assault on a heavily pregnant woman was today (Monday September 28) jailed for nine years.

Calvin John Chapman was made aware, during the ordeal, that his victim was in pain, but he continued with the attack, even seeking to blame the helpless woman.

Durham Crown Court heard that the victim was fearful of reporting the incident, and it was only the following day, when she told a friend, that she was urged to inform the police.

Chapman was subsequently arrested on suspicion of committing a series of sexual offences, all said to have been committed during the course of the incident.

He denied all the allegations and underwent a trial, at the court, in June.

Following the week-long hearing a jury found him guilty of two counts of rape, but cleared him of three other sexual offences, all stemming from the same incident.

Twenty-five-year-old Chapman, of Kirkfield Gardens, in Catchgate, near Stanley, was also convicted of dangerous driving, arising from an earlier incident in nearby Dipton.

The court was told that it was his first offence of a sexual nature, but he has a previous conviction for an incident of violence on a woman.

Recorder Jamie Hill, who presided over the trial, adjourned sentence to allow reports to be drawn up on Chapman by the Probation Service and a psychiatrist.

Having read those reports, he told todays sentencing hearing that the author of the probation report classed the defendant as a medium risk of committing further sexual harm, while the psychiatrist who examined Chapman, believed he just fell short of being suitable to qualify in the dangerousness category of offenders.

A victim statement read to the court by the victim, from behind a screen in the witness box, outlined the psychological harm she has suffered as a result of the attack, despite having tried to, put on a brave face, in the light of the incident.

Joe Hedworth, mitigating for Hill, questioned the extent of the psychological harm, and also the suggestion it was a prolonged incident, citing the jurys not guilty verdicts on three of the charges.

Passing sentence, Recorder Hill said in his mind it was a sustained attack.

Chapman was made subject of both registration as a sexual offender and a restraining order, forbidding him trying to make future contact with the victim, both indefinitely.

Following the hearing, the officer in the case, Detective Constable Kirsty Malone said: I would like to commend the victim for having the strength and courage to provide evidence."

*Help and support is available through www.sorrysnotenough.co.uk, or by contacting the confidential Harbour service, on (03000) 202525.

Alternatively, victims who feel unable to contact police, can still seek help by contacting The Meadows Sexual Assault Referral Centre, on 0191-301 8554, which provides a comprehensive service to residents of County Durham and Darlington who have been raped or sexually assaulted.

Their services are available to both sexes.

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A MUM has told of the horrifying moment she learned that her son had been targeted by a paedophile.

Ian Gregory was last week jailed for more than two years after admitting a string of sex charges against a young boy.

The mother of his victim said she felt sick when her son told her about the abuse.

The mum said: My son told me: Hes been doing things to me. I just felt sick when he told me.

Gregory, of Fellside Terrace, Stanley, near Gateshead, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault of a child, two of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, one of causing a child to watch sexual images, and 14 counts of possession of prohibited images.

The abuse of the child, who was described as vulnerable in court, happened while Gregory was living in Basingstoke.

At Winchester Crown Court, Adrienne Knight, defending, said the 46-year-old had begun accessing indecent images of children online after he left the army five years ago, following an exemplary 12-year career.

She added the defendant had discovered he had an attraction to young boys after looking at images on the internet.

Mr Gregory says: I dont like myself for the way I feel. I didnt ask to be born like this, she said.

Its criminal and its awful but he cant help the way he was born. He wants to come out of this a better man.

Barnaby Shaw, prosecuting, said the offences have had a devastating effect on the victim and his mother, who have since had to move away from the area.

Speaking about the young victim, he said: He has difficulty sleeping and has been having nightmares, screaming out.

Mr Shaw said Gregory had not admitted to the sexual assault before the police found a video on his phone.

Sentencing Gregory to 25 months in prison, Judge Guy Boney said: You are a man of good character who had an exemplary army record for 12 years and you stand there at the moment covered, rightly, in shame for the offences you committed.

As well as jailing Gregory, the judge imposed a sexual offences prevention order and ordered that Gregory should be put on the sex offenders register for seven years.