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Description

‘I said no. I told him to stop. He did not. He showed no regard for me or my consent’ – those are the words of a victim-survivor after the man who raped her is jailed for nine years.

Calvin White, 35, raped and sexually assaulted the woman numerous times across various addresses in the North East – despite her making repeated pleas to tell him ‘no’.

It wasn’t until the victim-survivor courageously disclosed the attacks to a health professional that White’s offending came to light.

Amongst the evidence were messages between the pair where the woman had confronted White about what he had done, to which he replied ‘What? When I raped you?’

After the offences were reported to Northumbria Police, White was arrested and questioned in connection with the reports.

In interview, White denied any wrongdoing, claiming everything which had happened had been consensual. He also denied sending any of the text messages.

In spite of this, following a complex investigation, White, of South Dene, South Tyneside, was charged with a slew of offences.

He continued to deny the charges, however, on the first day of his trial at Newcastle Crown Court in July, he pleaded guilty to six offences: three counts of rape and three counts of assault by penetration.

He appeared back at the same court last Monday (September 28) for his sentencing hearing where the victim-survivor described how much the abuse had affected her via Victim Personal Statement (VPS).

She said:

“Since the abuse, I have suffered from severe anxiety and paranoia. I lived in constant fear that he was watching me or would come after me.

“The abuse isolated me from friends and made me feel completely alone. I became withdrawn and stopped going out unless absolutely necessary. The only times I left the house were to go to work and back.

“I did all my shopping online because I couldn’t face being around people. I was exhausted, mentally and physically.

“I couldn’t sleep. I lost my sense of security and stability.

“Even now, years later, I still struggle with the lasting impact. I don’t trust men. When I go for a walk and a man looks at me, I feel deeply uncomfortable, sometimes panicked.

I avoid eye contact, turn around, and walk the other way. These reactions are automatic, and they show how deeply this trauma is still embedded in me.”

Talking about the abuse itself, she said:

“I said no. I told him to stop. He did not. He showed no regard for me or my consent.

“The memory of those moments will stay with me forever.

“This experience has changed me. I’ve lost my sense of safety, my trust in people, and parts of who I used to be. I am still trying to recover.

“I want the court to understand that although the abuse may have ended physically, I continue to carry the emotional, mental, and financial consequences with me every day.”

White was handed a nine-year prison sentence by a judge at Newcastle Crown Court.

White will also spend the rest of his life on the Sex Offenders’ Register and was given indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Orders (SHPO) and restraining orders.

Leading on the case was Northumbria Police’s Detective Constable Wood, she said:

“I’d firstly like to highlight the bravery of the victim-survivor in this case.

“The courage and determination she has shown throughout this process has ultimately led us to holding White to account for the attacks he carried out against her.

“While the sentence is no retribution for what she’s had to endure at White’s hands – I hope it can provide some closure and help her move forward.”

She added:

“White has demonstrated repeatedly that he does not understand the concept of ‘no means no’ – despite claiming that he does.

“Sex without consent is rape; it’s as simple as that.

“And that is something no-one should ever have to experience.

“Please know, if you’ve been a victim of any form of abuse – we are here for you and we will support you.”

Description

A man who strangled a woman before raping her has been jailed as his victim-survivor has described how her life ‘changed forever’ following the assault.

Forty-year-old Shaun Graham subjected the woman to a prolonged assault, where he held her down, strangled her, sexually assaulted her and then went on to rape her – whilst she repeatedly told him ‘no’.

The abuse occurred at an address in South Tyneside which the victim-survivor was able to escape from before swiftly telling a friend what had happened.

Soon after, police were informed and Graham was arrested and questioned.

In interview, Graham claimed everything that happened was consensual and denied any wrongdoing.

However, following a complex investigation by the Force’s Safeguarding Department, in January 2025, Graham was charged in connection with the abuse.

On Wednesday, September 30, Graham, of Stafford Close, South Tyneside, was found guilty of rape, sexual assault, and non-fatal strangulation at Newcastle Crown Court.

He returned to the same court on Friday (October 2), where he was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

As part of his sentence, he will spend the rest of his life on the Sex Offenders’ Register.

The victim-survivor in the case provided a Victim Personal Statement (VPS) to describe the lasting effects of Graham’s offending.

She said:

“During what happened to me that night, there were moments when I genuinely believed I might not make it out alive. I cannot properly put into words what it feels like to believe that you might die. In those moments, all I could think about were my family and the possibility that I might never see them again.

“I was violated in the most inhumane way, and that carries a shame that I struggle to put into words. My body did not feel like my own that night, and even now, during flashbacks and nightmares, I feel disconnected from my own body.

“There are still moments when I feel that same shame, even though I know that what happened was not something I chose.

“Before this happened, I generally saw the good in people and felt confident in my own judgement. Since then, I have become far more guarded and suspicious of others.

“I question situations and people in a way I never used to, and I no longer have the same confidence in my ability to judge who is safe.”

Directly addressing Graham, she continued:

“You did not hurt me for just one night. I have lived with the consequences every day since. The consequences of your actions have lasted for years already.

“You have taken my sparkle away from me. I am still here, and I am trying to find those parts of myself again. I hope that one day I will feel safe, trusting and completely myself again, but I do not know how long that will take, if at all.

“What I do know is that what you did to me has changed the course of my life without my consent, just as my choice was taken from me that night.

“I should never have had to rebuild myself. I survived what you have done to me. Now I must live with what you have left behind.”

Leading the investigation was Detective Constable Kerry Kane, of Northumbria Police.

On Friday, she said:

“Shaun Graham subjected this woman to a vile assault which, in her own words, has completely changed her life.

“My first thoughts always are with her – she has shown such courage from that initial report to police all the way through to the sentencing hearing today.

“Hopefully the knowledge that Graham is going to spend a substantial stint behind bars can allow her to move forward with her life.”

Det Con Kane added: “This case is a stark reminder to those who do not understand that no means no – lack of consent means you are a rapist.

“Day-in-day out we put these people before the courts and bring them to justice – all on our mission to protecting the vulnerable people in our communities.”

Description

A man has been sentenced for child sex offences after a complex police investigation.

David Richardson, 31, has been sentenced after he sent sexually explicit images and videos to someone he believed was a 14-year-old boy.

However, what Richardson didn’t know was he was actually speaking to an officer from the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU) carrying out a police investigation.

Following his arrest on July 17 at his home address in Denton Burn, Richardson was charged with attempt to cause a child to watch images of sexual activity and attempt to engage in sexual communication with a child.

Today (Wednesday), he appeared at Newcastle Crown Court for sentencing having pleaded guilty to all charges at an earlier date.

Richardson was sentenced to 12 months in prison suspended for two years, a 10-year sex offender notification requirement and a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Speaking after the sentencing, NEROCU Detective Constable Lee Robertson, said:

“This is just the latest investigation which has seen a dangerous predator have their day in court.

“Our work will not stop and we will continue to work to tackle online child abuse and sexual exploitation and would urge anyone who has been a victim of this type of offending, or has concerns about someone’s behaviour, to come forward and talk to police.”

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Aadel Nassrallah, 39, jailed for 18 years in absence after fleeing to Syria

Aadel Nassrallah, formerly of Elswick, Newcastle, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison in his absence after a jury at Newcastle Crown Court convicted him of offences including rape and attempted rape.

Nassrallah absconded to Syria before trial. Recorder Mark Giuliani said he had “voluntarily absented himself from the jurisdiction” and added: “I am aware he has returned to Syria.” The court heard he had spent time on remand before being granted bail.

The judge described Nassrallah as a serious sexual offender who was reportedly “trying to emulate what he had seen in pornographic movies” when he raped the victim.

In a statement read to the court, the woman said Nassrallah “took the joy” out of her life. She said no-one could go through what she had without it “destroying their mental health” and added: “I lost the ability to be me.”

A warrant has been issued. Nassrallah will be detained and imprisoned if he returns to the UK or is extradited. He must also sign the sex offender register for life.

Description

Michael Burke, now aged 66, committed offences against three girls who at the time of the abuse were school-aged.

Offences against two of the victim-survivors occurred in the mid-to-late 1990s, with the most recent offending occurring within the last decade.  

An investigation was launched when Northumbria Police received reports from all three victim-survivors who disclosed offences ranging from sexual assault to allegations of rape.

In all of the reports, the victim-survivors described how Burke would overpower them – sometimes also assaulting them whilst they pretended to be asleep. 

Burke was arrested and questioned by officers but either denied the offences or consistently answered ‘no comment’ to the questions put to him.

However, following a complex investigation by Northumbria Police’s Safeguarding Department, Burke, of Framlington Place, Newcastle, was charged in connection with the abuse.

Burke continued to deny any wrongdoing throughout the court process, even absconding whilst on bail leading him to needing to be arrested. 

After standing trial at Newcastle Crown Court earlier this year in June, he was convicted of offences against all three victim-survivors.

The offences comprised of with five counts of sexual assault, two counts of rape and three counts of indecent assault – being that those offences occurred before the Sexual Offences Act was introduced in 2003

Following his conviction, he was remanded into custody.

Today (Friday), Burke returned to the same court where he was handed a 24-year prison sentence.

As part of that sentence, he will spend the rest of his life on the Sex Offenders’ Register and was handed a lifelong restraining order against all three victim-survivors. 

All three victim-survivors provided Victim Personal Statements (VPS) to be read to the court which detailed the lasting impact Burke’s offending has had on their lives.

One victim-survivor described how the offences had deeply affected her mental health causing her to attempt taking her own life and also leading to a diagnosis of PTSD.

She said:

“One of the worst and most long-lasting effects of what happened to me was the way it affected my understanding of consent, control and my ability to protect myself.

“The abuse did not simply remain in my childhood. It followed me into my teenage years and adulthood and influenced the way I behaved, the decisions I made and the way I viewed myself.

“For many years, I thought I had learned how to live with everything that happened. The trial changed that.

“Having to revisit that period of my life has brought back memories and emotions that I had spent years learning how to manage. I have experienced sleepless nights and a significant deterioration in my wellbeing.”

Another victim-survivor described how after the offences took place, she could see Burke was ‘a very evil man’.

“I can no longer sleep, I would stay awake all night, when I did eventually fall off, I would wake up soon after, I would see him in my dreams. I could never sleep as I thought he would get to me,”

She added:

“I do not have the life I wanted, this is down to him, I am messed up but want to get better and will continue to try.

“I hope this statement has shown the court how much Michael has changed my life, I wanted a normal life which I know I have not had, this is down to him.”

The third victim-survivor detailed how she attempted to cope with the offences at the time.

She said:

“The way I tried to deal with this was to just try and put it in the back of my head. I became so angry towards everyone, I was upset all the time, I also did not know who I could trust anymore.

“When we had the trial, I was scared, I felt we would not be believed and he would get away with it.

“I felt at times like giving up. Since the trial, I have had a lot of nightmares, I see his face, I wake up thinking he is on top of me. 

“In some of my nightmares I am back in court but I am alone and he is the only other person there. I am struggling to sleep and should go to the doctors to see if they can help me.”

She finished:

“I hate Michael Burke for what he has to me. I cannot put into words how much damage he has done. I have so much anger and hate towards him, he has caused that much damage we will never be the same again because of what he has done to us all.”

Leading the investigation was Detective Constable Colin Lether, of Northumbria Police.

Speaking after Burke’s sentencing hearing, he said:

“Despite how much time has passed between the initial offending and the most recent, it has become clear that Michael Burke is a paedophile with a sustained interest in young girls.

“It’s evident from the testimonies of the victim-survivors just how much Burke’s offending has and continues to affect them.”

Det Con Lether added:

“I am pleased that Burke’s horrific offending has finally come to light thanks to the bravery of these three women coming forward and allowing police to investigate.

“All three have finally had the chance to put their abuser before the courts and to seek justice – I hope they can now move forward in whatever way they may be able.”

Description

A paedophile has been jailed for almost a decade after he was found guilty of a string of child sex offences against a teenage girl.

Matthew Watson, 26, was jailed by a judge at Newcastle Crown Court on Friday (September 11).

Watson plied the victim-survivor with drugs and alcohol before assaulting her on multiple occasions at various locations in the Newcastle area.

The girl disclosed what had happened to trusted people in her life and a report was later made to Northumbria Police.

Following a complex investigation by the Force’s Safeguarding Department, in April last year, Watson was charged in connection with the abuse.

He stood trial in August at Newcastle Crown Court where he was found guilty of 11 counts of child sex offences including sexual activity with a child and causing or inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity.

On Friday, Watson, of Tewkesbury Road, Newcastle, returned to the same court where he was given an eight-year prison sentence.

As part of his sentence, he will also spend the rest of his life on the Sex Offenders’ Register and was made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Leading the investigation from Northumbria Police was Detective Constable Claire Ashurst.

Speaking after the sentencing hearing, she said:

“It’s clear that Matthew Watson is a sexual predator who has taken advantage of this vulnerable girl for his own sexual gain.

“This victim-survivor has shown great bravery and dignity through the entire investigation and court process – which has now ended with her abuser being put behind bars.”

Det Con Ashurst continued: “The sexual abuse of children is horrific and, as a Force, we’ll continue to relentlessly bring those who commit these offences to justice. 

“No-one should ever have to experience this type of criminality, but please know if you have, we’re here and we’re ready to listen.”

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Detectives have praised the courage of a victim-survivor of child sexual offences as she describes the ‘everyday trauma’ she lives with.

Frankie Nielsen, 38, initially sent sexually explicit messages to the secondary school-aged girl.

However, the abuse escalated and he then went on to sexually assault the victim-survivor twice.

Now, the girl describes how she has gone from feeling ‘safe in her everyday life’ to ‘disgusted and too scared to tell her family’.

The long-term impact of Nielsen’s offending was heard in the victim-survivor’s personal statement, which was read before he was sentenced yesterday (Tuesday).

She said:

“I no longer feel safe. I still cannot walk past the place where this happened on my own and I have never returned there alone.

“My trust in people, especially males, has never been the same. My self-confidence has dropped very low.

“The biggest change in my life has been living with this trauma every day and trying to put it behind me. What the defendant did was wrong. He has given me trauma that I will carry for the rest of my life.

“I want the court to know that the harm did not end when the crime finished. It continues to affect me, my family and the way I live my life.”

After being arrested by officers, in interview, Nielsen admitted ‘I hold me hands up to sending some stupid messages’ – however he denied the assaults.

Following a complex investigation by Northumbria Police’s Safeguarding Department, in January last year, Nielsen, of Bentinck Villas, Newcastle, was charged in connection with the abuse.

And in July this year, he was convicted at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court of three offences: two counts of sexual assault and one count of sexual communication with a child.

Yesterday morning (Tuesday), he appeared at Newcastle Crown Court, where he was sentenced to 20 months' imprisonment, suspended for two years.

As part of his sentence, Nielsen will spend 10 years on the Sex Offenders’ Register, was handed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and was handed a lifelong restraining order.

Detective Constable Kerry Kane, of Northumbria Police, said:

“It’s clear that Frankie Nielsen is a sexual predator who has an interest in girls.

“As always, my thoughts and appreciation go towards the victim-survivors here who has shown immense courage from making that first report all the way through to sentencing today.”

She continued: “As a Force, we’ll relentlessly pursue justice against anyone who looks to take advantage of children – who are some of the most vulnerable in our society.

“No-one should ever have to experience this type of offending, but please know if you have, we’re here and we’re ready to listen.”

Description

A man has been sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for the sexual abuse he committed more than three decades ago.  

Philip Watson, now 60 years old, sexually assaulted three schoolboys on separate occasions between across the 1990s. 

The abuse was committed in the Sunderland and Northumberland areas when Watson was employed as a teaching assistant. 

The offences were reported to have occurred on the school bus, the school showers, as well as at a summer camp organised by the school.  

Watson was previously jailed for six years in 2017 after committing a string of child sex offences against three other boys linked to the same employment role.  

Those charges included five counts of indecent assault on a male, one sexual assault, and one sexual assault on a child under the age of 13. 

As part of his previous sentence, he was ordered to spend the rest of his life on the Sex Offenders’ Register and was handed a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). 

Two subsequent investigations around Watson’s offending were launched when three further victim-survivors came forward to report the same type of abuse. 

Watson was interviewed by officers in connection with the new allegations but denied any form of wrongdoing. 

However, in July 2024 and then again in January last year, Watson was charged with a total of four counts of indecent assault – being that the offences took place before the Sexual Offences Act was introduced in 2003. 

Last week, Watson, of Beach Road, of South Shields, stood trial at Newcastle Crown Court, where he was found guilty of all four offences.  

Yesterday (Thursday), he attended Newcastle Crown Court where he was sentenced to seven years in prison.  

He will remain on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life and his lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) will continue to be in place.  

Leading the investigation from Northumbria Police was Police Constable Colin Ramshaw. 

Speaking after Watson’s sentencing hearing, he said:

“The effects of Philip Watson’s offending have proven to have lasted a lifetime for the victim-survivors he abused. 

“Even though these offences occurred decades ago, it’s clear the damage he has caused has not diminished with time. 

“Watson has consistently refused to take accountability to what he did to these boys -now men - and I am pleased that they’ve been able to hold their abuser to account after all this time.” 

Pol Con Ramshaw added:

“I hope this case acts as a reminder to those who think they can rest easy because the offences happened years ago – we will find you and we will put you before the courts. 

“To victim-survivors who are unsure about coming forward, I want to assure you that there is no time limit on justice. 

“Whether the offences happened days, weeks, months, years or even decades ago, please tell us – we’re here for you.” 

Description

Mark Thornton, 60, of Lambley Avenue, Tynemouth, avoided an immediate prison sentence after admitting further breaches of the court orders imposed following child-sex offences.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Thornton was jailed in 2016, made subject to a sexual harm prevention order and required to comply with sex offender notification rules after he was caught by paedophile hunters using a decoy profile while trying to meet a child for sexual activity. The same group later caught him a second time. He has ten previous convictions, including attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and attempting to meet a child for sexual activity. He has also breached the sexual harm prevention order on four earlier occasions.

On 8 May this year, risk management officers found Facebook, TikTok, Telegram and X on his phone, in breach of the order. On Facebook and TikTok he was using aliases that had not been registered with police, a further breach. Eight days later, police found a tablet computer and a bank card that he had also failed to register as required.

Thornton pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching the sexual harm prevention order and one count of breaching his notification requirements. Judge Michael Robinson said Thornton became irritated when spoken to by probation and complained he was viewed as “once a sex offender always a sex offender”. The judge added that Thornton is assessed as posing a high risk of serious harm to children.

Antonia Adie, defending, said Thornton had forgotten about the tablet and failed to register the bank card, but had registered the account. She said: “It’s not persistent or serious in respect of him going out and buying the devices. There’s no suggestion he committed the substantive offences he did nine or ten years ago.” She added that his last conviction was in 2020 and that he has shown “he is capable of complying with the order and being managed in the community and staying out of trouble”. That period, she said, coincided with him meeting his now 81-year-old civil partner, who is terminally ill.

Judge Robinson said he had intended to send Thornton to prison, but instead imposed 18 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, with programme requirements and £150 costs after hearing about the partner’s condition. He told Thornton: “It’s an act of mercy on my part which I do not expect to be thrown back in my face. Stay away from chatrooms and the like, comply with the restrictions and stay out of trouble.”

Description

The victim-survivor of a man who took and then sold non-consensual intimate pictures of her on OnlyFans has described the ‘constant and exhausting anxiety’ of his offending.  

Thirty-seven-year-old Alex Tang’s sneaky offending was brought to light by the woman herself who built up a trove of evidence to bring to police’s attention.   

Initially, the victim-survivor was contacted by several men claiming to have spoken with her on social media and dating apps. She found the profiles were using images of her taken without her permission or knowledge.  

Alarmingly, in some of the images she was either partially clothed or fully naked. 

This caused the victim-survivor to come to the horrifying realisation that the images had been captured using hidden cameras set-up by Tang.  

Further exploration by the woman matched several of these pictures to images posted across various websites, including the website OnlyFans.  

The victim-survivor then reported the discoveries to Northumbria Police, and Police Constable Alex Pattinson was assigned the case. 

Working closely with the team at OnlyFans, PC Pattinson built up a case file of evidence collecting all images of the victim-survivor and ensuring they were removed from the site.  

Financial data secured by the PC connected Tang to the account and proved that he had sold these non-consensual images for money which was being paid straight into his bank account.  

In an attempt to verify and legitimise the OnlyFans account, Tang had also managed to take a photo of the woman’s ID to upload. 

In total, 47 images and four videos were uploaded to the site which Tang had been profiting from.  

Upon arrest, Tang had several of his devices seized however repeatedly attempted to confound the investigation by withholding the passwords to these. 

He also continually denied any wrongdoing when he was being interviewed by officers. 

However, in July, he pleaded guilty to one count of voyeurism at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court after being charged last December.  

And on Monday, August 11, Tang, now of Richardson Gardens, Shiremoor, but originally from the Loughbrough area, returned to the same court where he was given a 26-week prison sentence, suspended for two years. 

During the course of the investigation, the woman was supported by Rape Crisis, a North East-based support service, and an Independent Sexual Violence Advocate (ISVA) – who provided counselling services, and then more practical guidance ahead of court proceedings.  

She described the support she received from these services as ‘very supportive’ and has encouraged anyone else going through the same type of experience to utilise these to their fullest. 

At Tang’s sentencing hearing, in a Victim Personal Statement (VPS) which the victim-survivor read before the court, she said: 

“The passage of time has not allowed me to move on. This has affected my mental health significantly. I have spent months working with a Rape Crisis therapist and have relied on counselling and support from my GP to help me cope with the anxiety, stress, nightmares and lack of sleep.  

“Before this experience, I never truly understood why some victims of abuse withdraw from investigations or decide not to continue. I understand now. 

“The process requires you to relive the abuse repeatedly. You are forced to revisit traumatic memories, review images and videos, and repeatedly tell your story. It is emotionally exhausting.” 

However, her message to other victim-survivors going through any similar investigation would be to ‘just don’t give up’. 

She added: “There have been times when it would have been easier to walk away. The reason I did not is because I could not bear the thought of someone else experiencing what I have been through.” 

Talking about the lasting effect of Tang’s offending, she continued: “Tang’s actions have fundamentally changed how I live, how I trust people, and how safe I feel in everyday life. 

“Although his guilty plea brought some relief and spared me the ordeal of a trial, it does not undo the harm that has been caused.  

“Although these proceedings are reaching their conclusion, I will never have the certainty of knowing the full extent of what was recorded, shared or stored. The impact of that loss of that privacy and security will stay with me long after this court case has finished.” 

In conclusion to her statement, she said: “I cannot get the images, the videos, or the degrading captions and comments associated with them out of my mind. Knowing that intimate images and videos of me were uploaded to dozens of websites, reposted and shared by strangers, is something I struggle with every day.” 

As part of his sentence, Tang was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for seven years. He was also handed a ten-year restraining order to further protect the victim-survivor once he is released from custody.  

He also must serve 300 hours of community service and was given a 35-day rehabilitation order – during which he will be supervised by the Probation Service.  

Speaking on Tang’s sentencing, PC Pattinson said:

“I am horrified by Alexander Tang’s crime which is a clear violation of this woman’s expectation of privacy. 

“No-one should ever experience what this woman has gone through – and to then learn Tang was then profiting from his deceitful offending must have been devastating. 

“The victim-survivor has shown such courage and commitment in coming forward and reporting this behaviour to police – but the evidence she discovered against him meant Tang had little choice but to plead guilty.” 

PC Pattinson added: “Now, everyone knows that Tang is a sex offender – and the court-imposed orders mean he’ll be monitored closely by police for some time. 

“We won’t tolerate this type of offending, and we’d urge anyone who has been through anything similar to get in touch, so we can take action.” 

Description

A former York man has been jailed for non-recent child sexual abuse.

54-year-old Ian Mark Wrightson of Holmes Close, Newcastle-upon-Tyne was jailed for three years and four months when he appeared at Newcastle Crown Court on 5 August.

Wrightson lived in York at the time of his offending when he subjected a primary school aged girl to a series of sexual assaults between 1990 and 1992.

Wrightson would entice her to his room on the pretence of playing computer games and before every game, he would abuse her for his own sexual gratification.

He originally pleaded not guilty to five offences but on 5 August, the day he was due to stand trial, he changed his plea to guilty to three counts of indecent assault on a girl under 14, and two counts of gross indecency with a girl under 14. He was jailed on the same day. He was also placed on the sex offenders register for life and barred from working with children.

His brave victim said: “If my story can help someone in need, I would be so grateful that I had helped in a very small way by putting it out there and possibly giving them the strength to believe they can come forward themselves. I hope it will help people like me who have been so scared to come out and say something - whether it’s historic or current to speak up.”

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Helen Hewitt, added:

“Wrightson’s cowardice in denying the offences he committed until just before the trial, forced the victim to endure the build up to the trial, reliving the horrific abuse she suffered.

“His guilty plea is a testament to the strength and courage shown by the victim and I hope the sentence passed will provide other victims of abuse the courage and confidence to come forward. North Yorkshire Police will work tirelessly to give victims of abuse a voice and achieve prosecutions against predatory offenders like Wrightson.

“The effects of sexual abuse are long-lasting and can affect all aspects of a victim’s life. I urge anyone who has been abused, no matter when it happened, to please come forward. If you don’t feel you can report to the police at the moment, there are other agencies who can help you but please do not suffer in silence.”

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Anderson Ishiekwene jailed for attempting to meet child for sex after online grooming

An international student has been jailed for three years after being caught by online paedophile hunters while trying to meet a girl he believed was 14 for sex.

Anderson Ishiekwene, 25, a Nigerian national, was arrested in Washington eight days after starting a sexual conversation with a decoy profile. Newcastle Crown Court heard he exchanged more than 300 pages of messages with the account run by a paedophile hunter group, repeatedly asking the “girl” to delete his messages.

Ishiekwene admitted attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child and was found guilty of attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming.

He arrived in the UK from Nigeria on a student visa in August 2025 and settled in Sunderland. On 2 January he messaged the Facebook profile of a supposed 14-year-old girl. The conversation moved to WhatsApp.

Prosecutor Cole Cockburn told the court Ishiekwene was repeatedly informed the girl was 14. Over subsequent days he asked about her school and uniform, posed intimate questions about her body, requested pictures and sent an image of his naked groin. When she refused to send photos he called it “unfair” and claimed it was “a normal thing for people to do in a relationship.”

They arranged to meet at the Galleries in Washington on 10 January. Ishiekwene said he wanted to kiss and sexually touch her like “lovers.” On arrival he was confronted by members of the hunter group and arrested by police.

He denied the meeting was for sexual purposes but was convicted after a three-day trial. Judge Robert Spragg said the planned activity on 10 January was a “precursor” to full sex on a later occasion. The probation service concluded there was “little doubt” Ishiekwene was “attracted to children.”

Upon release he is likely to face automatic deportation. Ishiekwene was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register and comply with an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

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Stuart Rainey jailed for 17 years for repeated child sexual abuse

Stuart Rainey, 37, of Borough Road, North Tyneside, has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for the repeated rape and sexual assault of a school-aged girl.

The abuse, which occurred multiple times in the North Tyneside area, came to light after the victim-survivor disclosed it to a trusted professional at school. Police were informed immediately. Rainey denied the allegations when questioned.

Following a complex investigation, he was charged in May 2025 and convicted at Newcastle Crown Court on 15 May of ten child sex offences. He was sentenced at the same court on 23 July to 17 years’ imprisonment plus one year on extended licence.

Rainey was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life and made subject to a 25-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Detective Constable Karen Douglas, of Northumbria Police’s Safeguarding Department, said:

“Stuart Rainey is a predatory paedophile who has consistently shown an attraction to children. Because of his vile offending, he has robbed this victim-survivor of her innocence and part of her childhood. I want to praise the victim-survivor in this case. Your bravery is the reason this man is now behind bars and will be monitored by police for the rest of his life.”

She added: “I want to urge victim-survivors of any sexual abuse to please speak out regardless of when it happened or who the perpetrator was. We’ll do everything we can to get you the justice you deserve, no matter the circumstances, or how much time has passed.”

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Owen Wilson Sentenced for Raping Child Met in South Shields Park

Owen Wilson, now 18, wept in court as he was sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on Wednesday for raping a child he met in a South Shields park.

Wilson was 15 on 19 August 2023 when he was drinking with friends in the park and was introduced to the victim. As the afternoon progressed she was left alone with him and he raped her. The following day the victim told a friend, who informed a family member. Police were contacted and Wilson initially gave a “no comment” interview before pleading guilty to rape.

Judge Penny Moreland sentenced Wilson, of Grace Court, South Shields, who has no previous convictions, to a two-year suspended sentence. He must complete 250 hours of unpaid work and 40 days of rehabilitation activity. He also received a 10-year restraining order and was placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years.

Judge Moreland said she had to impose the sentence that would likely have been given at the time of the offence, when Wilson was 15.

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Update

A man who sexually assaulted a woman on board a train has been jailed following a British Transport Police (BTP) investigation.

Stephen Denison, 53, and of Baxter Avenue, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to Sexual Assault and was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment at North Shields Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 14 May.

He was also placed on the sex offenders register for seven years.

The court heard how, on 2 February this year, a visibly intoxicated Denison boarded a train at Newcastle station and sat opposite a 56-year-old woman. He immediately attempted to engage her in conversation.

His remarks became increasingly lewd and she was subject to a barrage of inappropriate questions.

When Denison asked the woman to move her luggage so he could sit next to her, she refused and made it clear she would not be engaging with him. However, he persisted and went on to sexually assault her before leaving the service at Durham station.

An off-duty Metropolitan Police Service officer sitting nearby spotted the distressed victim and immediately approached to comfort her. 

She told the victim she had reported what happened to BTP and detectives launched an investigation to track Denison down.

He was arrested two days later at his home address and questioned in custody before being released on conditional bail while detectives gathered evidence to charge him.   

After being released Denison was arrested again at Newcastle station for breaching his bail conditions which stipulated that he must not enter the railway.

Danison’s sexual assault charge was authorised on Monday 2 March.

BTP Detective Constable Adil Ahmed said: “Denison’s crude comments and subsequent assault have had a lasting impact on the victim.

“Being drunk is absolutely no excuse for sexual assault – it is hoped that now behind bars, Denison takes the opportunity to consider the effects of his lecherous behaviour.”

2023-07-20

A convicted sex offender tried to hug and kiss a woman in front of her young daughter as they sat in the back of a church.

Stephen Denison, who has two previous convictions for sexual assault, including one where he left a teenage schoolgirl hyperventilating in shock by groping her at a city centre bus station, spotted the female and child at the church in Fenham, one day in May this year. The 50-year-old pervert then sat next to the woman and hugged her before "forcibly pulling her" towards him and trying to kiss her, a court heard.

The terrified victim pushed the pervert away as concerned members of public, who had seen what was happening, intervened, prosecutors said. Denison, of Baxter Avenue, in Fenham, was arrested and charged with one count of sexual assault.

He failed to show for a subsequent hearing at Newcastle Magistrates' Court and a warrant was issued for his arrest, however, he was finally detained last month, pleaded guilty to the offence and the case was adjourned to this week for sentence. Gurjot Kaur, prosecuting, said the victim, who was unknown to Denison, and her young daughter were sat in the church one day in May this year when Denison approached them.

Miss Kaur continued: "The defendant initially hugged her. He kept trying to talk to her and offered her daughter a coin. The defendant then put his arm around her back and made an attempt to forcibly pull her towards him to try and kiss her. She pushed him away."

In a statement, the victim said she'd been left suffering from heart palpitations and having to take anti-nausea pills. She also said she had been unable to return to the church since the incident.

The court heard that Denison had 46 offences on his record, including two for sexual assault from 2021 and 2016. For the 2021 offence, which involved groping the teenage schoolgirl at Eldon Square bus station, he was jailed for 16 months and made to sign the Sex Offenders' Register for 10 years.

Andy O'Hanlon, defending, said Denison wasn't "bad to the bone" but, instead, "undiagnosed" with a limited understanding. Mr O'Hanlon added: "He hasn't addressed his offending behaviour in custody.

"Probation want to keep working with him on an intensive basis. Doing something to stop him drinking so heavily would be a good start. You can lock him up for a short time but it won't address anything. Probation want to put a great deal of work into him. Until that's done, he will just wander around being a pain."

Magistrates jailed Denison for 20 weeks and told him he must also sign the Sex Offenders' Register for seven years.