Search results for Newcastle

Description

A 15-year-old girl was raped by a stranger who offered to charge her phone for her.

The horrific attack happened just two days before the teen started her GCSE exams.

Warren Richardson, 19, was jailed for almost five years at Newcastle Crown Court last week after pleading guilty to rape. After his conviction the victim's mum has revealed the devastating impact the attack has had on her daughter's life.

The mum, who cannot be named to protect her daughter's identity, said: "It's had a massive impact on her. It's every parent's worst nightmare," reports Chronicle Live.

The attack happened on May 21 last year. The victim was in Newcastle City Centre after going to a birthday party in Jesmond when she realised her phone was dead, her mum said.

Richardson, who was 17 at the time, started talking to her. They went to a nearby fast food restaurant to ask to borrow a charger. But when this was unsuccessful Richardson offered to charge the victim's phone at his home, where he raped her.

When the teenager did not return home her mum called the police to report her missing.

"It's not her to not come home., and it wasn't like her not to answer," he mum said. Then the next morning she came back and told her sister what had happened.

Richardson, of Cross Parade in Elswick, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to rape in July. Last week he was sentenced to four years and 10 months in prison. He was also made subject to an indefinite restraining order and a 10 year Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Richardson must also sign onto the Sex Offenders' Register for life.

Det Cons David Ostle, who led the investigation for Northumbria Police, has praised the victim's bravery

He said: “This was an absolutely appalling offence and I am pleased that Warren Richardson has been convicted at court.

“This outcome would not have been possible without the amazing bravery of the victim, who along with her family have shown huge support and cooperation throughout this investigation.

“I sincerely hope that this outcome offers them some comfort, seeing Richardson behind bars as a result of his despicable actions. I also hope that the victim’s bravery can give others the confidence to come forward and speak to police."

However, the victim's mum said it would take her a long time to get over what happened.

"These should be the best years of her life. She should be enjoying herself and she's not," she said. "She just doesn't want him to do this to anyone else. That's why she went all the way with it."

Description

Paul Vickers, of Moreland Road in South Shields, was found guilty at Newcastle Crown Court of six child sex offences, including three counts of sexual assault of a child under the age of 13.

The 39-year-old denied the offences but following a five-day trial in June, he was found guilty by a jury.

The judge in the case remanded Vickers in custody until he is due to be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on Tuesday, October 31.

Description

A vile pervert caught distributing sickening child abuse images for a second time has been jailed.

In August 2021, Matthew Lumley was locked up for three years for distributing, making and possessing indecent images of children. He had more than 13,000 indecent images and had been sent some by a man showing his son being abused.

He was released from that sentence in February this year but despite being subject to a sexual harm prevention order, he was soon back offending in a similar way. He communicated with what turned out to be an undercover police officer who had set up profiles online, including on a Russian photograph sharing website on which users can upload sexual images of children.

year-old daughter and posted an email address, which Lumley contacted with a username including the phrase "loveboys1997".

The officer said he was interested in boys and girls aged from 0-10 and Lumley said he was the same and liked "crying and tying up". He went on to say he "loves torture and pain", adding "any age turns me on". Lumley also asked the officer if he could create a custom video for him including a child screaming.

Within a few days he was soliciting videos of the officers six-year-old daughter. Emma Dowling, prosecuting, said: "He described in detail what he would like to see."

Lumley, 26, of Kingston Park, Newcastle, went on to sent two category A videos to the officer, including of a two-year-old "tied up and gagged" and "in obvious pain and distress" being abused by a woman.

Miss Dowling said: "The conversation continued for a few more days, with the contents of the video discussed and the defendant suggesting he had videos of babies being raped. They continued to exchange grotesque sexual fantasies about the abuse and torture of children."

When he was arrested, police found 826 indecent images on his phone, including 307 of the most serious type, category A.

He pleaded guilty to distributing two indecent images of children to the undercover officer, two counts of breaching the sexual harm prevention order and three counts of making indecent images of children. He was jailed for three years with an extended licence period of a further five years. He continues to be subject to sex offender registration and a sexual harm prevention order.

Judge Tim Gittins said Lumley is a dangerous offender and told him: "They included images that can only be described as sexual torture and terror committed against those children of the most tender years, babies and toddlers."

The judge said while Lumley's autism might be a factor in his obsessive collecting of images and social isolation, it is not the sole or decisive behaviour in his offending. He added: "You remain an intelligent young man despite those difficulties.

"You attended mainstream school and college and gained significant qualifications, in one sense worryingly, in relation to ICT and cyber security. You remain deeply sexually preoccupied and preoccupied with underage children in a sexual way."

Matthew Purves, defending, said: "Most people would describe this as absolutely unimaginable offending when one looks through the descriptions given by the police officer who viewed the images.

"The defendant is trying to process his own behaviour but has to accept the only real mitigation is the fact he has pleaded guilty. All of the offences are online, there are no contact offences.

"He accepts he has a particular interest, something that has not been the case historically and there are routes of treatment and rehabilitation available."

Description

A sex offender has been locked up for 10 years after his victim bravely came forward to reports his crimes.

John Weeden, previously known as John Hawthorn, 56, of Elswick, Newcastle, came to Northumbria Police’s attention in 2020 after a woman came forward to report that as a child he had sexually assaulted her on several occasions. An investigation was launched, and Weeden was subsequently charged with three sexual offences.

He denied any guilt but was found guilty by a jury of his peers in July. And on Monday, a judge heard a powerful statement written by the victim, in which she spoke of her lifelong trust issues and the continued devastation this has brought her.

She said: “The events have left a scar on me and changed me as a person.” But looking to the future, she added: “I have finally got the justice I have waited for so long and I hope this man never gets the opportunity to ruin another child’s life, like he did to mine.”

Following her impassioned statement, a judge sentenced Weeden to 10 years behind bars. Detective Constable Lisa Herron, of Northumbria Police’s Safeguarding department, said: “I really am in awe of the victim’s courage.

"As a child, she was terrified into silence, and it took a lot of bravery for her to report and share the details of her abuse. But thanks to her strength and resilience, she saw her attacker charged, convicted and now sentenced for his vile crimes. I truly hope this sentence gives the survivor a sense of justice and comfort.”

She added: “I also hope that this shows others who have suffered non-recent abuse that it’s never too late for justice. You will be listened to, supported and we will do everything we can to ensure your abuser is put before a court.

“You’re not alone and you don’t deserve to suffer in silence while your abuser gets to go about their day-to-day life answering to no-one. We are always here.”

For support or more information on how to disclose sexual assault or rape, visit Northumbria Police’s website: Rape and sexual assault : Northumbria Police. To report any other type of historic abuse, contact police on 101 or report online via the force’s website.

Description

Joseph Stewart has been convicted following a trial at Newcastle Crown Court

A paedophile who sexually abused children has been jailed for 21 years after his victims bravely came forward to inform police of their ordeal.

Joseph Stewart abused one of the youngsters in the early 2000s, with the other victim abused after 2010.

The victims, who were young children at the time, realised what had happened to them as they grew into adults and informed Northumbria Police.

Officers immediately began an investigation into Stewart and arrested him.

In interview, the 56-year-old denied carrying out the attacks but was charged with five counts of indecent assault, one count of indecency with a child, one count of rape, one count of attempted rape and one count of sexual activity with a child.

He pleaded not guilty to all of the charges but was found guilty following a trial at Newcastle Crown Court in July and remanded in custody.

At the same court yesterday, Stewart, previously of Newcastle but most recently of Albion Gardens, Burnopfield, County Durham, was jailed for a total of 21 years.

Stewart was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order, sex offender registration and a restraining order.

Description

A paedophile was captured after he lost his phone which was jam-packed full of horrific indecent images of children.

Anthony Crosbie left his mobile phone on a bus in 2020, and it was found by a member of the public. But when the person opened up the phone, they saw a graphic indecent image and immediately reported it to police.

When 34-year-old Crosbie was arrested, another mobile phone was seized by police, and that one was also found to contain vile indecent images. Newcastle Crown Court heard that the ages of the children in the images were aged as young as one-year-old.

Crosbie, of Eastfield House, Walker, Newcastle, appeared at the court on Tuesday to be sentenced for four counts of making indecent images of children. He had admitted the offences.

Michael Bunch, prosecuting, said: "The offences came to light in January 2020 when the defendant lost his mobile phone on a bus. A member of the public opened the device to identify the owner and was met with an indecent image of a child."

The court heard that police were able to track the mobile phone back to Crosbie and he was interviewed that year, but made no reply. Mr Bunch said that the lost mobile phone contained 169 category A images, as well as 74 category B and 214 category C. The majority of the children depicted were between the ages of two and four-years-old, the court heard.

When Crosbie was arrested, another mobile phone was seized which had over 900 indecent images on it, depicting children from the ages of one-year-old upwards. A third device that was later found and had over 1,900 indecent images on it.

Andrew Walker, defending, said Crosbie was "ashamed of his behaviour" and remorseful. He said Crosbie was at a "low ebb" at the time of the offending and was drinking heavily. He added: "Frankly, in a number of ways his life was disintegrating."

Sentencing Crosbie, Judge Stephen Earl said the images discovered were "appalling" and handed him a two year prison sentence, suspended for two years. He must carry out 20 rehabilitation days, a six month alcohol treatment programme and will be on the sex offender's register for 10 years. A 10 year sexual harm prevention order was also imposed.

Description

A man who raped a sleeping woman after giving her alcohol and medication bought on the streets has been jailed.

Bruce Patterson was watching TV with the victim when he gave her booze and a tablet which he'd bought on the streets. But when the woman fell asleep, Patterson went on to rape the woman and interfered with her for over an hour.

The next day, the 37-year-old pretended like nothing had happened and even asked for her number. The attack left the woman feeling "minging" and she continues to struggle coming to terms with what happened.

On Tuesday, Patterson, of West Percy Street, North Shields, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court to be sentenced for rape. The offence was committed in the Whitley Bay area last year.

The court heard that Patterson and the woman were watching TV together, with the woman sharing a duvet with him. Judge Julie Clemitson said: "You gave her a tablet, these were street-bought tablets. She had had quite a lot of alcohol to drink and a strong painkiller on top of the alcohol. Over the next couple of hours you watched films and she fell asleep. It is clear she was soundly asleep but was aware of being lumped around."

The court heard the woman had not "fully awoken" when Patterson raped her and interfered with her, and she had no idea how long the incident lasted. Judge Clemitson said that Patterson took "well over an hour" when interfering with the woman before he went out for a cigarette.

The next day, Patterson acted like "nothing had happened", but the victim's "hazy memory" brought what happened back and she knew he had raped her. The court heard she was left feeling "minging" and "struggling" with what happened.

David Callan, defending, said Patterson had no other convictions relating to sexual offending and said he had been abused himself when young. He said Patterson has a learning difficulty and suffers from bipolar disorder, and is "institutionalised" in prison. He added: "He accepts the verdict but doesn't agree with it."

Patterson was jailed for nine years and will be on the sex offender's register for life.

Description

A pervert with a long history of looking at child abuse images claimed he failed to tell police about a secret iPad for six months due to "dyslexia and stress".

Michael Elder has been in court on numerous occasions for more than a decade for having indecent images and breaching orders designed to control his behaviour. In June last year that Elder was given a ten-year sexual harm prevention order when he was jailed for his third conviction for indecent images offences.

One of the terms of the order stated that he had to notify the police within three days of getting an internet-enabled device. An officer went to his home in June this year to do a risk review and when he asked Elder to provide all of his devices, he presented a phone and an iPad. He told the officer the iPad was new but he had bought it six months previously and had not informed police.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Elder, 44, of Raby Gate, Byker, Newcastle, has 25 previous convictions. In 2010, for possessing indecent images of a child, he got supervision and a sexual offences prevention order. In 2011, for failing to comply with the requirements of the sex offenders register and failing to comply with a community order, he got 13 weeks in prison.

In 2012 he was given a community order for possessing indecent images of a child and breaching the sexual offences prevention order. He was also given a sexual harm prevention order.

In 2019 he was convicted of having a phone he failed to declare to police and then last year he was jailed for eight months and was given a ten-year sexual harm prevention order for making indecent images, relating to offences committed in 2017 and 2018..

Now he has been sentenced to eight months suspended for 18 months for breaching the sexual harm prevention order. He was also ordered to do 100 hours unpaid work and the sexual harm prevention order and sex offenders registration continue.

Judge Tim Gittins said Elder had blamed dyslexia and stress for failing to understand the importance of registering his devices and failing to do so. He told him: "I think from your record you were well aware of the need to register devices and what is odd is you have a previous offence in 2019 for failing to register a mobile device so you were well aware of the potential consequences here. This was a deliberate breach.

"The record you have for downloading and possessing indecent images and such orders goes back to 2009. You have received, in the past, community orders and sentences of imprisonment and that track record is why it's of such grave concern that you are able to possess a device that is capable of accessing the internet for months before it's shown to the police.

"But the odd feature is you did show it to the police, they didn't discover it, and when it was examined it was found to be clear of any such disgusting images that you have had previously."

The judge said he would suspend the sentence because locking him up would mean he would lose his home and job and may set his rehabilitation back. But he warned him: "You are standing on the edge of a cliff. If you take a step, make sure it's a step back, away from the edge."

John Crawford, defending, said: "In the past a lot of this has stemmed from a drinking problem and feelings of worthlessness and feels he has nothing to lose. He has moved on from having a dangerous relationship with alcohol.

"He is in a much better position in terms of his personal circumstances and willingness to engage and not fall back into the damaging cycle he has been in for a significant number of years. He is working zero hours, as and when."

Description

A beach beast who took pictures of a naked young girl playing in the sand had thousands of indecent images and liked to wear children's underwear.

Russell Buglass took vile snaps focusing on the genitals of an unidentified girl aged between four and six as she played with a bucket on a beach in Tynemouth, later filing the pictures in a folder he titled "beach babes". That disturbing behaviour came to light when police turned up to investigate him downloading more than 40,000 indecent images online.

Officers also found he kept knickers for underage girls near his bed, had made a video of himself using a sex toy which he had put inside a babygrow and sent messages to a family member about how images of young girls aroused him. Now the 55-year-old pervert has been jailed at Newcastle Crown Court.

Police went to his then-home in Whitley Bay in January this year after receiving information that indecent images had been downloaded at the address. When cautioned and arrested, he replied "I've been so stupid, I'll lose my family and my job."

Officers seized his devices and also found a large number of children's underwear in a cabinet in the main bedroom. It was discovered that he liked to wear the underwear and sometimes carried out sex acts in them.

On the devices, there were 323 of the most serious, category A images, 555 category B and 40,679 category C. There were also 4,305 prohibited images and 1,025 extreme pornography images.

An example of the most serious images was given as a girl aged between eight and 12 being raped. The age range of the children featured overall was between five and 17.

In addition to the material downloaded online, he had taken category C indecent images of two children, including one aged between four and six on a beach in Tynemouth. There were 21 images of the unidentified child, in a folder titled "beach babes". Neil Pallister, prosecuting, said: "The girl was naked and holding a bucket. Her face could not be seen and the images focused on her genitals."

There was also a video showing him carrying out a sex act involving a pair of children's knickers. He was also seen putting his penis into a jar of sweets.

When quizzed by police he denied having a sexual interest in children but said he may have a sex addiction. He went on to say looking at mainstream pornography had escalated as he "looked for the next hit".

Buglass, 55, of no fixed address, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images, one of taking indecent images, possessing prohibited images and possessing extreme pornography. He was jailed for two years and ordered to sign the sex offenders register and be subject to a sexual harm prevention order, for ten years.

Sentencing him, Judge Tim Gittins said: "It's been said time and again that the making of each image is an act of abuse on top of the abuse the image captures. Then there's a further abuse of the victim when each image is viewed each time by someone like you.

"They have to live with the knowledge those images have been taken and that people like you are prepared to possess them and take sexual pleasure from them."

Mark Harrison, defending, said: "He understands there are a number of extremely troubling aspects to his behaviour, which will cause the court significant concern. He recognises his behaviour has been utterly reprehensible. The court and wider public will rightly consider them repugnant.

"He had lost his moral compass over a number of years. He has always expressed his shame and his absolute regret at the pain he has put people close to him, and those who are strangers to him, through, as a result of his selfish behaviour."

Mr Harrison said he has ruined the relationships he had with his family, his professional career, his family's finances and his standing in the local community. He has been living in bed and breakfast and shared accommodation and relying on benefits and "understands he is currently unemployable".

Mr Harrison said Buglass did not want to use his autism and ADHD as an excuse and has sought help, including joining Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous and is taking medication to "check whatever impact his various conditions have had".

Description

A 64-YEAR-OLD Bradford man has been jailed for 12 years after a string of sexual assaults on young children.

Brian Wylie, of Clayton Road, Clayton, appeared via video link at Bradford Crown Court to be sentenced for a total of five charges, including indecent assault and gross indecency of a child under the age of 14, and sexual assault of a child under the age of 13.

Wylie was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment in total with a three-year extended licence period.

He was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order until further notice and must register as a sex offender indefinitely.

Prosecutor David McGonigal outlined how the 64-year-old had admitted three historic offences.

One victim was so young they didn’t know what he was asking them to do was wrong, the prosecutor told the court.

He had faced a trial on further charges, and had been found guilty in March of two counts of sexual assault of a child.

His three victims were said to have suffered long-lasting trauma as a result of the attacks, including incidents of self-harm and struggling with an eating disorder.

Judge Colin Burn said in sentencing: “The effect of your offending has been long lasting.

“They have caused significant emotional disorientation to children and therefore also trauma which is likely to be long-lasting.”

Of his first victim, the Judge said: “In cases of this type it is relatively unusual for an offender of your type to come forward in this way and to make those admissions.”

Allan Armbrister, for Wylie, referred to issues that the defendant raised when his pre-sentence report was being compiled, but he did not go into further detail.

The Judge however did refer to post traumatic stress disorder or psychological damage – and that it can be “no excuse for sexual offending of this sort” and “can be little or no mitigation for ruining the lives of others”.

West Yorkshire Police states on its policies that any person reporting historic sexual abuse to the police will be treated seriously. The matter will be thoroughly investigated and historic offences could still result in the conviction of an offender.

Description

His Samsung mobile phone and tablet device were seized and examined and contained a total of 10 Category A, the most serious, pictures and videos as well as 23 category B images and 16 category C.

The court heard the members of the WhatsApp group where he shared the single, Category A video, had an "interest" in such illegal material, as well as sexual violence and bestiality and suggested "horrific" websites where it could be viewed.

Judge Julie Clemitson told the court: "He was an associate of those who had particularly gruesome interests."

Daglish, 37, of Collingwood Street, South Shields, South Tyneside, admitted one charge of distributing an indecent image, three of making indecent images and one of possessing a prohibited image, which was a cartoon.

He was sentenced to two years imprisonment, suspended for two years, with rehabilitation requirements and 240 hours unpaid work.

Daglish was ordered to sign the sex offenders register and abide by a sexual harm prevention order for the next ten years.

Judge Clemitson told him: "You came to the attention of the authorities in this country via the authorities in the US, who became aware of you sharing a category A video on WhatsApp.

"Clearly you were associating with a group of people who shared a common interest and within that group certain recommendations were made to you for suggested viewing which depicted the most horrific content of rape, sexual violence, child abuse, bestiality."

Judge Clemitson said there was no evidence Daglish viewed the "horrific" websites suggested by the group but told him the child abuse images he had on his devices depicted real victims being subjected to harm that could last them a lifetime.

The judge added: "You claim to have no sexual interest in children and that I cannot accept but hopefully it is something you will come to deal with in due course.

"You blame your actions on alcohol."

The court heard Daglish has no previous convictions and has sought to address his alcohol misuse.

Judge Clemitson said Daglish is capable of rehabilitation, is allowed "one opportunity" and told him: "The world will be a safer place for children if you do successfully address those issues."

Gavin Doig, defending, said: "This is a defendant who the probation service say they can work with and who they say can benefit from intervention.

"He is obviously extremely concerned about the outcome."

Description

A paedophile motivated by “sexual power and control”, and a “sexual attraction to children”, is starting a 28-year prison sentence.

Classed as, an offender, “of particular concern” and considered a danger to children, Trevor Cairns must serve at least two-thirds of that sentence, almost 19 years, behind bars before he can be considered for release by the Parole Board.

But Newcastle Crown Court heard he may have to serve longer and, due to his infirmity, at the age, now, of 66, he may never enjoy his liberty again.

Cairns was convicted of a litany of “horrific” sexual offences against three children, two girls and a boy, spanning a number of decades, beginning when he, himself, was a teenager.

The court heard his offending dates from the late 1960s onwards, but it was only in 2018, when one of his victims came forward after discovering Cairns had been issued with a caution over another allegation of sexual abuse, in 1987, that the full picture of his crimes began to emerge.

When he realised he had not been Cairns' only target, the victim decided to come forward to report the actions of the man who preyed on him when he was a young boy, subjecting him to sexual abuse and raping him in the 1980s.

Cairns, of Barmston, Washington, was brought in for police questioning and gave a statement denying the offences, before being charged with multiple sexual offences.

Detectives then traced two further victims, who had gone on to lead lives away from the North East.

Both gave accounts of the abuse they suffered in their younger lives, at Cairns’ hands, and assisted police in helping to put him behind bars.

Having made blanket denials about all the allegations, it was only several days into his trial, at the court in February, as he was due to try to give evidence in his defence, that he changed pleas and admitted 13 charges.

These included five of rape, four of indecency with a child, three of indecent assault and one of buggery.

Several of the charges related to multiple offences against each of the victims.

Addressing the sentencing hearing today (Thursday May 18) the two female victims tearfully read impact statements to the court.

They variously described Cairns as, “a monster” and “an inhuman creature”, and spoke of the effect his abuse has had on their lives.

The court was told despite his late guilty pleas in mid-trial, he went back on those admissions when was interviewed by the Probation Service, preparing a report for the judge prior to sentence.

But, Cairns’ counsel, Jamie Adams, said he does, now, accept committing those offences.

“What this demonstrates is when somebody commits offences as bad as these it’s almost impossible for them to come to terms with it.

“We often see the denial when someone is guilty and they can’t admit to it or own up to it.

“We hear from the victims that he’s some sort of monster.

“One of the things that prompted the guilty pleas as late in the day as it did was Mr Cairns saying how sorry he felt.

“The whole matter can now be put to an end completely.

“He knows he’s completely alienated everyone in this world from him.

“He accepts he is likely to spend the rest of his life custody.

“There might be something there, though, that is not necessarily evil.

“And, any future risk posed by him is lessened by his infirmity.”

Judge Robert Spragg told Cairns that the probation report author’s belief was that: “You are motivated by sexual power and control and a sexual attraction to children.

“You are now 66, with health issues and in a wheelchair.

“You should never be in a position to harm children again.”

Imposing the sentence of 28 years, with at least two-thirds behind bars, Judge Spragg said upon his release Cairns will be subject to a one-year extension on his licence conditions.

The judge also made him subject to the terms of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, notification requirements as a sex offender and restraining orders relating to each of his three victims, all for life.

Speaking after Cairns’ belated guilty pleas, Detective Constable Colin Ramshaw said: "The bravery shown by all the victims is nothing short of astounding.

“They have waited years for justice. Some have waited decades, but their abuser is now remanded into custody awaiting sentence.

"This has been one of the worst cases of prolific sexual offending I have ever seen.

“I really cannot praise the survivors enough.

“I believe they have given hope to others who have also suffered abuse and are yet to come forward.

Description

Online predator Michael Hancock tried to meet a 12-year-old at the Metrocentre and told her to pose as his niece if they saw anyone they knew.

The paedophile, who has previously worked "with youths and in hospitals", thought he was talking to a real child when he sent images of his genitals and turned the conversation sexual but, fortunately, it was actually an undercover police officer.

Newcastle Crown Court the officer had set up a profile online purporting to be an 18-year-old from Tyne and Wear, with which Hancock began to communicate in October 2021. He was soon told the girl was in fact 12 and he said he was 57.

The conversation quickly moved to Snapchat and turned sexual. Hancock sent a photograph of his legs in the bath and then his groin area. The profile replied with a message written on a child's arm saying "show me" and Hancock sent images of his penis.

Ian Cook, prosecuting, said: "He said he would buy gifts for her and she should not let her family know about the conversation and he arranged to meet her at the Metrocentre. He said if they saw anyone they knew they should say they were uncle and niece.

"He said they should be careful because if he was caught he would be called a paedo." He then went on to ask further intimate questions and discussed his sexual habits.

Mr Cook said: "He said he wanted to kiss her all night and hold her close. He arranged to meet her at the Metrocentre but was intercepted by police and arrested."

Hancock, 59, of Edinburgh Road, Jarrow, pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and was sentenced to eight months suspended for two years with a four-month curfew. He will also be subject to a sexual harm prevention order and will have to sign the sex offenders register for the next ten years.

Judge Julie Clemitson told him: "You believed that girl to be somewhat vulnerable and in the care system, yet rather than take actions any responsible adult would have done, which was immediately desist in talking to that child and even report the profile, you instead chose to continue to chat.

"You did so in a way which has the hallmarks of a predator, frankly. You slowly, over a period of time, gained that child's trust by talking in a non-sexual way, offering to take her out and buy her gifts, then slowly but surely you introduced a sexual element to the conversation.

"You spoke about meeting at the Metrocentre and agreed a cover story should anyone ask who you were. You engaged in chat about various sexual practices and sent images of your penis to that, what you believed to be, 12-year-old child.

"It's clear you have a sexual interest in young girls, however much you protest to the probation officer that you do not. Your behaviour was predatory.

"The seriousness of this kind of offending should not be underestimated. Just because there was not a real child doesn't mean this kind of offending doesn't lead to serious consequences. Children suffer day in and day out because of online paedophiles like yourself."

Sam Faulks, defending, said: "He has been a working man who has contributed to society by his taxes and toil. He has previous good character and he cares for his elderly uncle and if he is locked up he will not have that additional assistance from his nephew."

Description

A trainspotting pervert has once again been given a jail sentence for an indecent assault he carried out against a young boy in the 1980s.

Steven Gustafson began chatting to a young teenage boy about trains at Newcastle Central Station in the early 1980s before he asked him to take a trip underneath the arches of the King Edward VII bridge. The victim was then indecently assaulted.

The vile offence only recently came to light when the now-adult victim read that Gustafson had been jailed in 2021 for a very similar offence dating back to the same time. He then reported the assault to police.

In 2021, Gustafson was jailed for four and a half years for carrying out similar sexual offences which were also committed in the 1980s. He was in his mid-20s at the time when he befriended two boys who shared an interest in trainspotting and then sexually abused them after taking them to isolated places.

Gustafson, who has been serving his prison term at HMP Northumberland, was due for release this summer, but was hauled back in front of a judge at Newcastle Crown Court on Thursday to be sentenced for the indecent assault which had recently come to light. The 65-year-old pleaded guilty to the single offence in March this year.

The court heard that the victim was a young teenage boy in the early 1980s and had first met Gustafson at Sunderland Train Station and began chatting about trains. Gustafson then offered to take the boy and his friend to Sunderland's South Docks, but he declined and instead went home.

But months after their first meeting, the boy ran into Gustafson again, this time at Newcastle Central Station.

Jane Waugh, prosecuting, said: "The victim recognised the defendant and again began chatting about trains. The defendant suggested they go over the to the King Edward VII bridge and look under the railway arches."

As the boy engaged into further conversation about trains, he realised Gustafson was "not really interested" in them. It wasn't long before Gustafson indecently assaulted the boy after putting his arms around his shoulders and asking sexual questions.

After pushing away Gustafson, the boy fled on a train and kept the assault a secret until years later when he confided to a former partner. However, the incident had a profound impact on the victim, who would regularly search for Gustafson on the internet. It was during one search that he read the defendant had been jailed for sexual offences.

Reading of his prison sentence, the victim then bravely reported what happened to him to police.

The court heard that Gustafson had nine previous convictions for 21 offences, all of which were offences committed against boys under the age of 16. All of his sexual offending took place behind the backdrop of a "railway setting", the court heard.

Peter Schofield, defending, said Gustafson had not committed any offences since 1998 and had successfully completed a sex offender treatment programme in the 1990s.

He said: "He has worked hard to change his life and plays a useful part in the community and his church. He is at a low risk of re-offending and has a firm plan to move away from this area. He is unlikely to re-offend again and has made efforts to stay offence free. There is a positive side to his general behaviour."

Sentencing Gustafson, Recorder Benjamin Nolan KC handed him a further 12-month prison sentence. He remains on the sex offender's register for life.

Description

A man who groomed and then raped a teenage girl has been jailed after his victim bravely came forward to tell police of the ordeal her attacker had subjected her to.

Richard Park, 45, had been contacting the 15-year-old girl via social media, before meeting the victim in January 2020.

While in his car in the North Tyneside area, he forced the teenager to perform a sex act on him.

The victim then contacted police to inform them of what had taken place and a full investigation was launched - in which the victim shared numerous messages with officers which Park had sent her. Following his arrest, Park denied any physical contact between himself and the victim.

He was however subsequently charged with rape of a female under 16, engaging in sexual communications with a child and child grooming. Park, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual communication with a child and child grooming, but not guilty to the rape charge - which he was convicted of following a trial at Newcastle Crown Court.

At the same court on Wednesday, May 10, he was sentenced to a total of nine years in prison.

Park was also made subject of a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will be on the Sex Offenders’ Register for the next decade.

Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Karen Douglas, of Northumbria Police, said: “Park’s victim showed immense courage in coming forward to report the abuse he had put her through and we hope that his conviction helps to provide a degree of closure, enabling her to move on with her life.

“We are grateful for her and her family’s continued co-operation throughout the investigation, which has helped to put a manipulative and predatory paedophile behind bars.”

Det Con Douglas added: “Park knew his victim was underage and yet still he chose to pursue a sexual relationship with her, that is abhorrent. Not only did he groom and rape his victim, but he also then put her through the ordeal of a trial when he pleaded not guilty to the rape offence.

“Thankfully the jury saw through his lies and he is now rightfully beginning a lengthy term behind bars.”