Search results for Hartlepool

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A RAPIST who preyed on a vulnerable young girl after meeting her in a bar has been jailed. Convicted drug dealer Valentine Livingston persuaded his teenage victim to return to his home with a group of friends for a party. However, CCTV footage from a pizza takeaway showed how the victim was mortal drunk and in no fit state to consent to sex, Teesside Crown Court heard. The 35-year-old raped the woman in his bed before hiding her underwear under his mattress after he took advantage of her while they were in Spensley's nightclub on Albert Road, Middlesbrough, in July 2017. The court heard during Livingstons trial how the victim had awoken in his bed without her underwear and in pain. During his evidence, he accepted that they had had sex but insisted that he stopped when she had asked him to. Recorder Peter Hampton jailed Livingston to eight years in prison after he was found guilty of rape in December last year. At the time of the offence she was out in Middlesbrough town centre, just as many people do, he said. During the course of the night she consumed alcohol, she got drunk, just as many young people do. That young girl, incapacitated like she was, should have been looked after, she should have been cared for. Unfortunately, she was to cross your path. The court had heard how she had fallen off a stool in a pizza shop before she was taken back to his flat. A witness said - she was mortal drunk; she was all over, she could barely stand or walk in a straight line. Back at your flat she went to bed, to sleep but you followed her you raped her, he added. This was predatory behaviour and it was driven by a sense of sexual entitlement you possessed at the time of the offence. There was no thought from you about the victim, the impact it would have upon her and you were intent in only satisfying your own sexual desires. Praising the bravery of the victim, he added: She had to wait over four years for the trial to take place, she has shown great fortitude, dignity, and resilience in enduring that unacceptable delay and the experience of giving evidence. I make the same observations about the other witnesses who came to court to give evidence. Livingston, of Avondale Gardens, Dyke House, Hartlepool, formerly of Middlesbrough, denied two counts of rape - claiming the sex was consensual on both occasions. He was acquitted of raping a second woman who said she smoked skunk at his flat after a night out, before going to sleep in Livingston's bed. Paul Abrahams, in mitigation, said his client had cleaned up his lifestyle since the rape was committed in 2017 and was due to become a father again later this year. Livingston was also made subject of an indefinite restraining order to protect both complainants. Speaking after the hearing, investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Lizzie Stubbs, said: I welcome the sentence passed today and hope it brings a degree of comfort to the victim who has shown great courage throughout the investigation and court process. Livingston took advantage of a vulnerable teenage girl and is clearly a danger. Anyone who is victim of rape or any kind of sexual abuse can rest assured they can report in complete confidence to Cleveland Police. We have specially trained officers and we also work closely with local specialist agencies; together we will deal with your report sensitively and thoroughly, while offering all the support you may need.

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Vincent Douglas, 53, was jailed at Teesside Crown Court on Tuesday, September 7, after he pleaded guilty to a series of sex offences against the youngsters committed a number of years ago.

His offending later came to light when one of his victims told staff at her college what he had done to her.

Douglas originally denied matters, including after the case was sent to the crown court.

But he confessed to six counts before a trial took place. He admitted two counts of sexual assault of a child, two of assault of a child by penetration and two of sexual activity with a child.

Douglas was sentenced to a total of nine years and five months in prison.

Police have welcomed the sentence saying it sends a clear message to abusers that they have nowhere to hide.

Judge Timothy Stead said: “This is multiple repeat offending.”

Referring to an impact statement made by one of the victim’s Judge Stead said: “She speaks of panic attacks and flashbacks and she herself feeling guilty.

"Of course she shouldn’t feel guilty, but that I’m afraid is a common consequence, phenomenon, of offending of this nature.”

The second victim talked about not trusting people or wishing to go out on her own because of what happened.

A Cleveland Police spokesperson said: “We welcome the sentence handed to Douglas; it sends a very clear message that those who abuse children have nowhere to hide.

“Our specially trained officers will always investigate thoroughly any form of abuse against children, no matter how long ago it happened.

"Victims and their families will also receive specialist support from police and other agencies throughout the entire process while we do all we can to bring perpetrators before the courts.

“We hope today’s sentence brings comfort and a degree of closure to the victims and their families.”

Douglas, of Greenwood Road, Hartlepool, will be on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.

He was also given one year’s extended licence for when he is released.

Anyone experiencing any form of abuse, or has concerns about someone you believe to be at risk, is urged to contact Cleveland Police on 101, available 24 hours a day.

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The victim of Paul Maiden's drink and drug-fuelled sex attack is now looking to the future, Teesside Crown Court heard A woman went through "pure hell" when a rapist forced himself on her while she was sleeping next to her boyfriend. Now she says she is looking to the future as sex attacker Paul Maiden, 33, starts a long prison sentence. A judge said she hoped the woman could take comfort from the fact a jury believed her and convicted the rapist. Maiden had been drinking and taking cocaine when he began raping the woman while she and her boyfriend slept. She awoke to find him having sex with her, Teesside Crown Court heard on Wednesday. "Initially she thought it was her boyfriend then realised that he was asleep next to her and realised it was you," Judge Deborah Sherwin told Maiden. "There was something of a struggle. "She was left covered in bruises. It isn't clear to me at all how this happened. Something happened to cause her that bruising." Woman suffered post-traumatic stress disorder The woman's boyfriend woke up to her shouting that Maiden had raped her, and he chased Maiden away. Maiden was cut to the hand with a knife, and the boyfriend gave evidence that he felt he had to defend himself from the rapist. In a moving statement the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said she went through "pure hell". Prosecutor Paul Newcombe said: "She has lost her self-esteem and it's compounded issues she had. "She's still suffering from depression and a form of post-traumatic stress disorder but is looking forward to the future with confidence." Judge Sherwin said the woman was particularly vulnerable as she was sleeping. She said the victim was also affected by alcohol as she was found to be four times the alcohol limit for driving afterwards. 'It's had a profound effect on her life' "It's had a profound effect on her life," added the judge. "She sets out in her statement the attempt she has made to take her own life. "I can only hope that she gains some comfort from the jury's verdict in this case." Maiden, of Hartlepool Marina, denied rape but was convicted by a jury after a trial last week. He had no previous convictions for sexual offences and had been out of trouble since a drink driving offence in 2010. 'Quite excessive levels of drinking' Robin Denny, defending, said: "No relevant convictions. He's never been sent away. "An incident which would never have happened if there hadn't been a background of quite excessive levels of drinking." Passing sentence, Judge Sherwin said: "It could be argued she has suffered from severe psychological harm. "The best mitigation is that you have no relevant previous convictions. "You are effectively of good character and have never served a custodial sentence before." Maiden was jailed for eight years. He was given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order banning him from contacting the victim, and will be on the sex offenders' register for life.

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A man has been sentenced to 5 years in prison for sexually assaulting another man. Martin Marine, 48, of Hartlepool, was sentenced today at Carlisle Crown Court after being found guilty. He was already on the sex offenders register for life. Marine had befriended his 20-year-old victim while out in Bowness on February 8 this year. He went back to the victims house with another person to carry on drinking and while there stated he could not get home, so the victim agreed he could stay the night. The victim has then fallen asleep and awoken to find that he was being sexually assaulted by Marine. Marine is a dangerous man who targets young and vulnerable men. Detective Constable Garin Scott, Cumbria Police

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A PAEDOPHILE whose case caused uproar when he was allowed to go free because of apparent police blunders was back in court today.

Child pornography pervert David Berry was hit with an order which means his activities will now be monitored and restricted by the authorities.

Judge Michael Taylor sparked fury in September when he spared 61-year-old Berry, despite saying: “This man fully deserves to go to prison.”

He blamed Cleveland Police for taking so long to bring the case to court and for an officer turning up late to show him the indecent images of children.

The judge also refused to impose a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) on Berry because he said the terms were “incomprehensible”.

Today, a new draft SOPO was put before the court, and Judge Taylor imposed it, telling Berry: “It will apply for the rest of your life.”

The order bans the sex offender from having unsupervised contact with under-18s, and fitting anti-forensic software to his computer.

Berry will also have to allow police risk management officers access to his Hartlepool home and let them examine the contents of his computer.

He was given a community order in September after he admitted 16 charges of making indecent images of children and possessing more than 500 others.

Police found the pictures and short films on six different storage devices during a raid at his home in Lowthian Road, Hartlepool, in July 2007.

Wheelchair-user Berry, who was jailed in 1988 for indecently assaulting a child, was also ordered to undergo a sex offenders’ treatment programme.

At Teesside Crown Court yesterday, controversial Judge Taylor again criticised the prosecution, describing it as “totally unsatisfactory”.

Berry’s barrister, Peter Sabiston, said: “I have discussed the draft SOPO with my client, and the prohibitions seem to be workable and reasonable.”

Last night, Berry’s daughter, Jayne, who criticised the decision to spare her father prison, welcomed the move to carefully monitor his activities.

The 35-year-old said: “He should have gone to jail last time, but I’m glad the order has finally been made, and hopefully it will prevent a repeat.”

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REMORSELESS child molester Colin Raymond Taylor today begins an 18-year prison sentence for a litany of devastating sexual abuse.

The 41-year-old pervert was given the jail term as the three girls who spoke out against him were commended for their courage.

Judge Peter Armstrong told Taylor yesterday: “I take the view that you remain a danger to young girls and accordingly a substantial sentence will be necessary.

“You still continue to deny matters completely despite the overwhelming evidence against you.

“And you show absolutely no remorse whatsoever.”

He passed sentence at Teesside Crown Court for a list of 30 sex crimes against girls as young as six, some stretching back to the 1980s.

After a two-week trial last month, a jury found him guilty of 19 charges.

These included seven counts of child rape - “one of the most serious offences in the criminal calendar,” said the judge yesterday.

He was also convicted on charges of indecent or sexual assault, sexual activity with a child and actual bodily harm assault.

He denied all of the abuse, claiming it didn’t happen and accusing the complainants and their supporters of lying.

“They are to be commended for having the courage to give evidence,” added the judge.

He told Taylor: “You had a trial in which you made the three victims of your sexual abuse relive the ordeals that you put them through. Anyone sitting through that trial heard a catalogue of appalling abuse.”

The judge said Taylor video recorded some of his crimes and tried to avoid detection. When one girl complained about what he did, he physically assaulted her.

He told how one victim, now a grown adult, particularly suffered from the “indignities” imposed upon her.

It led to her becoming involved in drug addiction and prostitution, affected her ability to trust men and caused difficulties in relationships.

“It devastated her life,” said Judge Armstrong.

He praised her dignity recounting her experiences in the witness box to bring her abuser to justice.

He said Taylor also took advantage of two other girls, repeatedly touching and interfering with them.

Days after the trial, Taylor admitted 11 offences of making indecent photographs of children - 11 still and moving images found on his computer, downloaded during 2007.

Some were child abuse images involving girls as young as 10, placing them in the second most serious category in law.

The judge said Taylor’s offending in recent years showed he “still harboured distorted thinking” and had a sexual interest in underage girls.

Adrian Dent, defending, said there was little he could say in mitigation for Taylor, of Macaulay Road, Hartlepool.

He said: “Overall he understands that there will be a substantial custodial sentence, even though he has no previous convictions.

“There was a substantial gap in offending.”

He said Taylor had worked hard throughout his life, it would be his first time in prison and he would have “an extremely difficult time” there.

Mr Dent added that Taylor was a young man at the time of some of his crimes. The judge said this was no excuse.

Taylor was banned from working with children indefinitely.

He also received an indefinite sexual offences prevention order banning contact with under-18s or his victims, having photographs of children, camera or video equipment or accessing the internet.

Detective Constable Zoe McCarthy said today: “The sexual abuse of children ruins lives, and the sexual abuse committed against the victims of Colin Taylor has had a devastating effect upon them.

“The substantial sentence today reflects the seriousness of the offences committed.

“Sexual offences against children, no matter how many years ago, will be thoroughly investigated by the Child Abuse Investigation Unit of Cleveland Police.

“The families of the two teenage victims have stated that they are very pleased Taylor has been brought to justice and the girls are now trying to rebuild their lives.

“Taylor’s other victim, who is now an adult, has spoken of how the abuse has changed her life forever causing her great emotional suffering which she is now trying to overcome.”

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A COURT security guard who conducted a “campaign of rape” on four children was yesterday jailed for 15 years.

Paul Aird used the two boys and two girls, “for his sexual gratification” in a litany of abuse spanning more than 20 years.

The 49-year-old guard, who worked at Hartlepool Magistrates’ Court, was convicted of raping and indecently assaulting the four victims in his car and at his home, following a five-day trial at Teesside Crown Court, in July.

He claimed the allegations were engineered by his former wife’s family following his second marriage to a younger woman.

The trial jury was told that Aird, of Oxford Road, Hartlepool, told one girl to stay silent for years because the shock would kill her ill mother.

Despite his denials, Aird was found guilty of seven charges of rape, two of buggery, one of attempted rape, and three of indecent assault, on dates between December 1981 and February 2002.

He was cleared of indecent assaults on two women, at a barbecue and at a Christmas party. Judge Evans directed the jury to acquit him of another buggery offence and an indecent assault.

He was brought back for sentence yesterday, when Durham Crown Court was told that, despite the verdicts, Aird still denies the allegations.

Robin Denny, mitigating, said:

“There’s nothing I can say about the offences. He still denies them and his wife stands by him.”

Mr Denny revealed that following sentencing Aird was to attend his father’s funeral.

Judge Evans told Aird: “You turned your attentions from one victim to another without any shame, remorse or compassion, using each to satisfy your sexual gratification.

It’s a tribute to them that they have managed to make something of their lives, not withstanding what happened to them.”

Aird was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for life and is forbidden from working with children for life. He is also subject to various restrictions under the terms of a sexual offences’ prevention order.

Speaking after the sentence, Detective Sergeant Matt Mason, of Cleveland Police’s Hartlepool child abuse investigation unit, said: “The victims, who are now all adults, are delighted with this outcome.”