Latest Offenders Northumberland

Description

A paedophile who carried out a sequence of sex offences against a schoolgirl has been jailed for 16 years.

Peter Dellbridge raped and sexually abused his victim in the early 2000s ago at an address in the Northumberland area.

Two decades later, the brave woman reported the abuse to Northumbria Police, and, in 2022, an investigation was launched by the Force’s Safeguarding Department.

Dellbridge, now 64, attended a police station to be interviewed but denied the allegations of abuse.

However, following a complex investigation, in November 2023, Dellbridge was charged with a string of offences in connection with the report.

He continued to deny the allegations and went on trial at Newcastle Crown Court.

In January, a jury at Newcastle Crown Court found Dellbridge guilty of 19 offences including rape, assault by penetration, inciting a female under 13 to engage in a sexual act, sexual assault by touching and causing a child to watch a sexual act.

And today (Thursday) Dellbridge, of Western Avenue, Seaton Delaval, was handed a 16-year sentence behind bars at the same court. He will also serve a further year on an extended licence once he is released from prison.

He will also spend the rest of his life on the Sex Offenders’ Register and was handed a lifelong and Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and restraining order to protect the victim.

Description

A 21-year-old man has been jailed for sexual assault in Ashington – after being identified as a result of a Northumbria Police appeal.

On September 24 2024, just before midnight, Devon Critchlow forced his way through the door of a stranger’s Ashington address after the woman opened the door, believing he was someone else.

Critchlow pinned the woman down, punched her in the face and then sexually assaulted her – also forcing his hands around her neck.

After the woman fought back at Critchlow, he then stood up, left the address, and shut the door behind him.

The victim reported the incident to police who immediately attended the address and launched an investigation.

Quickly, an individual was identified on CCTV following the victim home – and Northumbria Police appealed to the public to identify the man. Within hours, members of the public identified Critchlow as the suspect, and he was arrested and interviewed in connection with the report.

As part of the investigation, officers seized a black jacket matching the CCTV images of Critchlow from the time the offences took place and were also able to match fingerprints from the scene with that of Critchlow.

The day after his arrest, Critchlow, of Rochester Close, Ashington, was charged with a string of offences.

In January, he appeared at Newcastle Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to four offences of assault, non-fatal strangulation, sexual assault, and committing an offence with intent to commit a sexual offence.

On Wednesday, April 16, he was back at the same court where he was sentenced to five years and three months’ imprisonment with a further five years on licence once he is released.

Critchlow will also spend the rest of his life on the Sex Offenders’ Register and was handed a restraining order to protect the victim.

Description

A "dangerous" and violent rapist who attacked a teenage girl has been jailed for 14 years.

Robert Green, 30, had denied offences, including rape, but was found guilty by jurors at Newcastle Crown Court.

The offending came to light after the victim visited a Tyneside hospital and a nurse raised concerns, the court heard.

Green must also serve four years on extended licence upon his release from prison, and must sign the sex offender register for life.

Judge Gavin Doig praised both the nurse for intervening, and the girl for reporting the rape to police.

In a statement read to the court, the victim said she still lived in fear of Green and had developed a distrust of men as a result of his actions.

'Lifelong impact'

Green, who appeared at court via video link from HMP Durham, could be seen violently gesturing, shouting and laughing throughout the sentencing hearing.

Judge Doig described Green, whom the court heard had never had a job, as a "dangerous" offender who posed a "high risk of serious harm" to other people.

Green, of no fixed abode, had 15 convictions for 31 offences on his record, including multiple episodes of serious violence for which he had been previously jailed, the court heard.

Det Con Kayleigh Falcus, of Northumbria Police, said Green was "extremely dangerous" and his actions had had a "lifelong impact on his victim".

The detective also paid tribute to the nurse, adding: "This case demonstrates so very clearly that safeguarding is everyone's business.

"If you've seen something which doesn't sit right, don't ignore it – report it to us."

Description

A "disgusting" postman who abused his position to grope multiple women, with one of his victims killing themselves, has been jailed for six and a half years.

Michael Stewart, 63, targeted several women when he was making deliveries in Northumberland, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Two of his five victims have since died, with Judge Robert Spragg saying one of them had taken their own life as a "direct result" of Stewart's actions and Royal Mail's failure to respond to complaints about him.

One of his victims told the BBC Royal Mail took no appropriate action against Stewart. The firm has since apologised and said it had made changes.

Stewart, of Windsor Terrace in Amble, was found guilty of 12 offences including sexual assault, exposure and harassment.

In a statement read to the court, the family of one of his victims said: "We blame Stewart's offending against [the woman] for her mental state and eventual suicide."

'Severe psychological harm'

The woman's mother said their lives had been "destroyed" by her death, which she said was also contributed to by Royal Mail's failure to take action against Stewart.

Judge Robert Spragg said while there were numerous factors involved in a suicide, he was "satisfied" the woman's death was a "direct result" of what Stewart did.

"Had you not behaved in this manner towards her, it is clear she would not have suffered the severe psychological harm she did leading to the loss of her life," the judge told Stewart.

The judge also said Royal Mail's inadequate response contributed to her distress.

Another victim said she felt guilt, anger and sadness that "two of his victims took their own lives".

She said Stewart went from a "nice guy who delivered the post" and "who had kind a word and cheeky smile" to someone she "had to hide from because I was scared".

The woman said she was "disgusted" by Stewart, a grandfather who had worked for Royal Mail for 22 years, and he had "tainted lives".

The court heard the woman complained to the Royal Mail that he sexually assaulted her but, after initially being moved, he was soon put back on her round.

'Hid in plain sight'

The other woman, who has since died, said she had "trusted" Stewart as a "Royal Mail person" and he "took advantage of his position".

She said he ogled her chest like a "kid in a sweetshop" before putting his foot inside her front door to prevent it being closed and grabbing her breast.

Judge Spragg said it was an "appalling catalogue of abuse" against lone women for Stewart's own "sexual gratification".

He said Stewart was popular and "hid in plain sight behind a facade of respectability" and his victims were often afraid to report him due to his status.

When they did, they were "not listened to properly", Judge Spragg added.

'He was not bothered'

One of his victims, whose identity cannot be revealed, told the BBC Stewart was initially "really nice and friendly" and "always had a joke".

But one day, when handing her a package, he walked into her home and grabbed her breast, she said.

She said she told him to "get off" but he was "not even bothered by what he'd done", adding: "He said that I wanted it. I didn't.

"I didn't encourage it.

"That's the bit that upsets me."

The woman said she complained to Royal Mail but they failed to inform police and just "swept it under a rock".

She is now seeking compensation from Royal Mail.

'Abused position of trust'

Det Con Anthony Gourley said Stewart was a "calculating predator" who "abused his position and subjected his victims to horrific ordeals".

Praising the victims for their courage in coming forward, he said it was tragic two of them had not lived to see justice served.

A Royal Mail spokesperson said: "These crimes were abhorrent and had significant, and in cases tragic, consequences for the victims.

"Stewart abused his position of trust.

"We would like to publicly apologise to the victims, their families and to others who were targeted."

The firm said protection of other people was of the "utmost priority" and it had followed the recommendations of an independent review.

"We implemented changes across the organisation," the spokesperson said, "including a multi-year campaign on sexual harassment and culture in the workplace, new internal reporting tools and clearer codes of conduct and expected behaviours."

A restraining order banning Stewart from contacting his three surviving victims was also made to last indefinitely.

Full inquests are yet to take place.

Description

A child sex offender left one of victims terrified after following her on social media just days after getting out of prison.

Leslie Crossan was locked up for 12 years in 2018 after being convicted of a series of offences of sexual assault of a child and sexual activity with a child in relation to four victims under the age of 16. As part of his sentence, he was given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order banning him from contacting any of the victims.

Having served half of his sentence, the 64-year-old, of Kearsley Close, Seaton Delaval, Northumberland, was released from custody on licence on November 14 last year. Shortly after that, he reactivated one of his social media accounts.

On November 28, one of his victims looked at her phone and was horrified to see a notification telling her Crossan had followed her. David Robinson-Young, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court: "She was shocked and panicked as a result of seeing the notification."

The victim said: "I fear he will make further attempts to contact me. I'm truly scared of this man and what he will do. He has only been out of prison three weeks and has already intimidated me."

Crossan was arrested and when his phone was examined it showed searches had been made for the victim and he had sent a message saying he was going to try to contact her. He pleaded guilty to breaching the sexual harm prevention order.

Mr Robinson-Young said: "This was a deliberate breach which caused her serious distress. It happened only two weeks after being released from prison."

The court heard Crossan has been recalled to prison to serve out the rest of his 12 year sentence. For the new offence, he was jailed for 15 months.

Assistant Judge Advocate General Edward Legard told him: "That must have been extremely unnerving and distressing for her. She was clearly shocked and panicked by what she had seen and read."

Nigel Hedley, defending, said "there was no malice" in Crossan's actions, adding: "He is truly apologetic. It's very possible he will remain in custody for the next six years on recall."

Description

Daniel Devlin, 38, thought he was messaging a mother selling her children for sex when he said he would do "anything" to them, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

It was actually undercover police officers and his obscene messages and a phone call were recorded.

Devlin, who was previously jailed for possessing indecent images of children, admitted offences including attempting to arrange the commission of a child sex offence.

Police set up an online profile on Chatiw with a username suggesting they were a mother offering her seven-year-old and 11-month-old daughters for sex, prosecutor Omar Ahmad said.

On 20 March this year Devlin got in touch to arrange a "playdate", Mr Ahmad said.

In a follow up telephone call, Devlin said he would be "into anything" with the two girls, giving details of sex acts he would make them perform.

Upon his arrest, Devlin told officers he had "no friends" and had spoken to the decoy account as part of "sexual role play" but had no intention of meeting the woman or her children.

'High risk'

The offence was committed while he was on bail for breaching a sexual harm prevention order, the court heard.

The order was made after Devlin, of Coburg Street in Blyth, Northumberland, was jailed for 15 months in September 2017 for seven counts of possessing and making indecent images of children.

In January 2023, he spoke to another undercover officer on Chatiw and Kick with his conversation "almost exclusively sexual and discussing sexual fantasies with young children" including a toddler he knew, Mr Ahmad said.

When he was arrested he was found with two phones which he had not registered with police.

Devlin also admitted two counts of breaching a sexual harm prevention order and publishing an obscene article.

Judge Tim Gittins said there had been a "very high risk of really serious harm" if Devlin had succeeded in meeting a girl for sex but he was a man with "difficulties" having been sexually abused as a child.

Another indefinite sexual harm prevention order was also made and he must sign the sex offenders' register until further notice.

Description

A mother was shocked to find out her partner was a convicted sex offender.

Karl Everiss had assured the woman he had no previous convictions and had never even been arrested before she let him meet her children. She had no idea he had been to prison for sexual activity with a child until the police came to her and broke the news.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Everiss was jailed for four years in July 2017 for four counts of sexual activity with a child. He was also given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life.

In September this year, police carried out a home visit on him and found he had been using an alias of "silver fox" on Facebook, a name he had not registered with police as he was supposed to.

Following that, police made further inquiries and discovered Everiss had been in a relationship with a woman in Ashington. They went to her home and she said she had been in a relationship with him for around 12 months and that he had been staying there two or three times a week.

She also confirmed that her children had been present on some of the occasions he had been there. His contact with the children put him in breach of his sexual harm prevention order.

Albany Kidd, prosecuting, told the court: "She said after three months she let him meet the children after asking him if he had any previous convictions. He told her he was of good character and had never been arrested and was not that kind of person.

"Her children don't permanently reside there but they had been present on numerous occasions at the same time as the defendant, although they have never been left alone with him. However he did stay overnight while they were there."

The woman said Everiss was asleep upstairs and when police went up, they found him lying on the floor and he appeared to be trying to hide.

Everiss, 53, of Juliet Street, Ashington, who has 28 previous convictions, including two previous failures to comply with the sex offender notification requirements, pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to comply with the sex offender notification requirements and failing to comply with the sexual harm prevention order.

Jailing him for two years, Judge Tim Gittins said: "It's clear from what she had to say that she had started that relationship with you and allowed you to meet her children only on the understanding you were of good character. So there was a degree of deceit and manipulation by you.

"There is no evidence of harm here, beyond, no doubt, the awful sense of the reality hitting (the woman) and her children when it transpired what your true character was, when the police notified her of the circumstances of your previous conviction."

Helen Towers, defending, said: "His greatest mitigation is his early guilty plea, entered at the first opportunity." She added: "He didn't have a huge amount of contact with the children and there's no allegation of any untoward behaviour."

Description

A mother was shocked to find out her partner was a convicted sex offender.

Karl Everiss had assured the woman he had no previous convictions and had never even been arrested before she let him meet her children. She had no idea he had been to prison for sexual activity with a child until the police came to her and broke the news.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Everiss was jailed for four years in July 2017 for four counts of sexual activity with a child. He was also given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life.

In September this year, police carried out a home visit on him and found he had been using an alias of "silver fox" on Facebook, a name he had not registered with police as he was supposed to.

Following that, police made further inquiries and discovered Everiss had been in a relationship with a woman in Ashington. They went to her home and she said she had been in a relationship with him for around 12 months and that he had been staying there two or three times a week.

She also confirmed that her children had been present on some of the occasions he had been there. His contact with the children put him in breach of his sexual harm prevention order.

Albany Kidd, prosecuting, told the court: "She said after three months she let him meet the children after asking him if he had any previous convictions. He told her he was of good character and had never been arrested and was not that kind of person.

"Her children don't permanently reside there but they had been present on numerous occasions at the same time as the defendant, although they have never been left alone with him. However he did stay overnight while they were there."

The woman said Everiss was asleep upstairs and when police went up, they found him lying on the floor and he appeared to be trying to hide.

Everiss, 53, of Juliet Street, Ashington, who has 28 previous convictions, including two previous failures to comply with the sex offender notification requirements, pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to comply with the sex offender notification requirements and failing to comply with the sexual harm prevention order.

Jailing him for two years, Judge Tim Gittins said: "It's clear from what she had to say that she had started that relationship with you and allowed you to meet her children only on the understanding you were of good character. So there was a degree of deceit and manipulation by you.

"There is no evidence of harm here, beyond, no doubt, the awful sense of the reality hitting (the woman) and her children when it transpired what your true character was, when the police notified her of the circumstances of your previous conviction."

Helen Towers, defending, said: "His greatest mitigation is his early guilty plea, entered at the first opportunity." She added: "He didn't have a huge amount of contact with the children and there's no allegation of any untoward behaviour."

Description

A sick sex offender used a hidden camera to capture hundreds of indecent images, including images of a child.

Kevin Green was found to have almost 400 indecent images when police seized his electronic devices, a court heard.

Now the 60-year-old has been jailed at Newcastle Crown Court and must sign the sex offender register. His actions will also cost him his job, the court heard.

The court heard that Green's victim found the concealed camera which she believed must have been placed there at least six months prior.

The court heard that the camera had been capturing footage which could be accessed via an app on Green's iPad. And when police examined his devices they found one Category B video and 366 Category C images, including photos and videos of his victim.

He originally pleaded guilty to two counts of taking indecent images of children and denied two counts of voyeurism. However, he later changed his plea and pleaded guilty to all four counts.

The court was told that Green is "ashamed" and "disgusted" by his behaviour and "can't believe what he has done". He has worked in a high pressure job for many years, however, he will now lose the job due to his conviction, the court heard.

Judge Tim Gittins sentenced Green, of Prestdale Avenue, Blyth, to 13 months in prison. He must sign the sex offender register for 10 years and will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order.

Description

A predator subjected a vulnerable woman with the mental age of a young child to an "appalling" sex attack after luring her away from her family in a pub.

The victim, who has obvious and profound learning difficulties, was taken around the back of a pub where bins were stored and, in shocking scenes caught on CCTV, he subjected her to a sex attack.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the victim's family have been left disgusted and devastated by Newton's actions. Now he has been jailed for more than 11 years after admitting sexual activity with a person with a mental disorder impeding choice.

Anne Richardson, prosecuting, told the court: "She has learning difficulties, which are obvious to anyone who encountered her." Experts say the victim has the mental age of a young child and she does not have the capacity to consent to sexual activity.

On the evening of the attack, her family took her to a pub to allow her to enjoy a social setting while under their care and supervision. She was dancing and Miss Richardson said: "It would appear that the defendant was watching her dance and the complainant started to speak to him.

"A doorman in the pub noticed the defendant and the complainant walking round the corner, which he thought was unusual. At about 9.30pm her family noticed that she was missing from the pub, and frantically began to search for her.

"She eventually returned to the pub and told her family that she had been sexually assaulted. CCTV was examined and showed that the complainant and the defendant had walked together from the pub and round the corner, to where the bins were."

Once there, Newton sexually assaulted her in various ways and had sex with her. The entirety of the sexual offending was captured by the CCTV.

Miss Richardson added: "Once at the pub door, the defendant briefly stated to the complainant’s family that it was his fault that she was outside, before leaving, and the complainant told her family what had happened, albeit she said that the defendant had told her not to say anything,

"She told her family that the defendant had suggested taking her outside for a cigarette, taking her hand, and although she had asked him if she could go back to her parents several times, he refused. The police were called immediately, and CCTV was viewed."

Newton, 61 of Elsdon Avenue, Seaton Delaval, Northumberland, who said he had consumed ten pints of alcohol, repeatedly denied sexual activity when quizzed by police, even when faced with DNA evidence. However he eventually pleaded guilty.

As he was sentenced, the victim's dad said in an impact statement: "Since the assault I've noticed how withdrawn she is. She's very wary of communicating with others, which is sad to see.

"As a family we are disgusted with what that man has done to our daughter. She is extremely vulnerable and we feel he preyed on her to take her away from her family when he could to abuse her. It's had a great impact on our family."

He branded Newton's initial denials of what he had done as "cruel and thoughtless" and added: "That man has tainted our trust in people.

"The fact he has sexually abused (the victim), who clearly has learning difficulties shows what he is capable of. I will never forgive what he has done to my daughter and he should be held accountable for his actions."

Passing sentence, Judge Amanda Rippon said: "I've seen a lot but I've rarely seen something as shameful as this. Your impact on that young woman is significant and I suspect, sadly, will be lifelong."

Regarding the victim's family, the judge added: "I know they will feel they let her down. They didn't.

"They took her somewhere safe, that should have been safe. Unfortunately on that night, instead of being met by love and kindness of people in the pub she met a predator, someone who was prepared to put his sexual gratification above all else."

Newton was jailed for 11 years and three months, of which he will serve two-thirds before he can be released. He must also sign the sex offenders register for life and was given an indefinite restraining order.

Ian Cook, defending, said the only mitigation was Newton's guilty plea. He added: "I concede these are appalling offences. He is quite rightly shameful of his conduct on this occasion and has demonstrated some remorse."

Description

A sick pervert who groomed a child by offering her sweets and then raped and sexually assaulted her is likely to die in prison after being handed a 20-year prison sentence.

Thomas Hobbs, 78, of Ovington, Northumberland, appeared before Judge Penny Moreland at Newcastle Crown Court on Monday September 30. He had been convicted of a string of vile child sex offences. Hobbs was convicted of 10 offences, which included at rape, sexual assaults and encouraging a child to engage in sexual activity at the same court in July.

Judge Moreland passed a custodial sentence of 20 years - this is to be made up of a 19-year jail term extended for a year due to the danger Hobbs poses to the public. Hobbs will not be considered for parole until he has served two-thirds of his sentence.

Hobbs will also be placed on the sex offenders' register for life, and has been made subject to a restraining order preventing him from contact with his victim.

He was told he will "in all likelihood" die in prison. Speaking to Hobbs, who appeared in court via videolink from Durham Prison, Judge Moreland said: "The jury convicted you of a series of serious sexual offences against [the victim]." The judge also told Hobbs the jury was satisfied he "abused her sexually and in the most serious way imaginable".

Judge Moreland said the offending had been aggravated by a number of factors including that he had gonorrhoea at the time of the offences. The judge said the defendant had begun to groom her, "by offering sweets" and then later asked her "can you give us a feel down there".

Judge Moreland then detailed the nature of the horrific offences and the impact they had on the victim. Judge Moreland added: "What you have done has had a substantial impact on her, and it has had an impact on her ability to trust and to build relationships with adult men. You have caused her immense anxiety and have affected her personality in ways she has described."

The judge said she had "no doubt" Hobbs was a dangerous offender.

The court had earlier heard a victim impact statement in which the girl - who has the automatic right to lifelong anonymity under law - said: "The abuse I have suffered has had a massive impact on my life. Firstly it has impacted my trust in men, particularly older men. There are a few males in my life but I do not feel I can build relationships with them."

She said the Hobbs' abuse had also led to her developing social anxiety. She said when her mother had told her the jury's verdict - convicting Hobbs that: "I cried and hugged my friend. It was such a relief that it was all over."

Defending, barrister Steven Reed offered no mitigation though did reference that Hobbs takes medication for a heart condition.

Description

A Northumberland man has been jailed for carrying out sexual offences against two underage girls and possessing child sexual abuse images.

Callum Hall chatted to one underage girl on social media and "pressured" her into sending him naked pictures of herself. He then coerced the girl into having sex with him and made comments saying he would show people her pictures if she didn't comply.

Hall committed offences against a second underage girl as well, and led her into woods before gripping her neck and asking her to perform a sexual act on him. The 21-year-old was also found to be in possession of indecent images of children and extreme pornography - some images he had depicted babies being abused.

On Friday, Hall, of Newlyn Drive, Cramlington, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court to be sentenced for causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, three counts of making indecent images, three counts of sexual activity with a child, and breach of a sexual risk order. The offences were committed when Hall was under the age of 18, but was significantly older than the victims.

The court heard that Hall met one of the girls on Snapchat, and "pressured" her to send him naked pictures and videos of herself - which she did. Glenn Gatland, prosecuting, said: "The defendant was pressuring her to send pictures of herself. She complied for him [and sent pictures] on a live Snapchat feed."

What the girl didn't know, was that Hall had used software to save the pictures and videos and then told her to meet him for sex, otherwise he would "show people". The court was told that the girl then met Hall on three occasions and they had sex.

During separate offending, Hall struck up a conversation with a second girl and "encouraged her to walk into the woods". Mr Gatland said: "He put his hands around her neck."

Mr Gatland said that while in the woods, the girl fell over and cut her hand, with some of her blood staining Hall's shirt. He then asked the girl to carry out a sexual act on him as "compensation" - which ultimately did not happen.

The court was told that between 2017 and 2022, Hall was also in possession of indecent images of children. He had 67 category A images, which included babies being sexually abused. He also had 78 category B, and 63 category C images. He had also used "key words" to search online for child sexual abuse images and also had extreme pornography in his collection.

At one stage, Hall was made subject of a sexual risk order - which involved certain prohibitions. But he breached that order when he struck up a conversation with a teenage girl on Snapchat in 2022. His breach came to light when the girl's mother saw his messages and reported it.

Shaun Routledge, defending, said Hall demonstrates a level of immaturity and "didn't have much of a start in life". He said: "He has difficulties that seem to be [related to] ADHD and autism. He has high levels of anxiety and poor decision making."

Mr Routledge said that despite the age gap between Hall and his victims, he was "operating nearer their age than his actual age" and lives in an "isolated world". He added Hall was "extremely remorseful" and that a pre-sentence report advised he would be "extremely vulnerable" in a prison environment.

Sentencing Hall, Recorder Mark McKone KC said his sexual offending was "persistent" and jailed him for 26 months. He was made subject of a 10 year sexual harm prevention order and will be on the sex offender register for 10 years.

Description

Harley King, aged 19 from Newcastle and and Ben Jennings, aged 20, from Cramlington, in Northumberland were just 17 and 18 respectively when they attacked the woman in 2022.

Following a trial in June, King was found guilty of three offences two charges of raping a woman aged 16 and over and one charge of voyeurism or recording a private act. Jennings was convicted of two charges of rape of a woman aged 16 and over, and one sexual assault charge of a female aged 16.

Description

A bus pervert left three schoolgirls terrified and traumatised after targeting them on the top deck.

Barry Aldcroft zoned in on the 15-year-olds at Haymarket bus station, in Newcastle, talking to them before following them onto a bus and sitting near them. During the journey, they noticed he was looking at them while carrying out a sex act on himself.

When the disgusted teenagers decided to get off the bus early, he then touched one of them on the bottom as she went to retrieve her phone charger. Now the pervert, who was already subject to a court order for trying to communicate sexually with what he thought was a 14-year-old online, has been jailed.

Newcastle Crown Court the three 15-year-old girls had been shopping in Newcastle and one of their mother's decided to let them have a bit longer in town and get the bus home together. They were at the Haymarket bus station in the middle of the afternoon when they were approached by Aldcroft, who asked if they had a lighter and was told they didn't. His contact with the girls put him in breach of his sexual harm prevention order.

The girls got on a bus which was heading to Blyth and went upstairs and sat at the back. Aldcroft followed them and despite there being plenty of empty seats, sat just in front of them, on the opposite side.

As the bus headed towards Cramlington, one of the girls noticed Aldcroft kept looking at them and she swapped seats with her friend as she felt uncomfortable. Another of the girls noticed him pat the seat next to him as if inviting them to sit there and he beckoned them over with his hand.

Neil Pallister, prosecuting, said that Aldcroft spread his legs and was putting his hand down his pants and touching himself while looking in their direction.

Because of his behaviour, they decided to get off the bus and when one of them realised she'd left her phone charger behind and went to get it, Aldcroft poked her bottom. Mr Pallister said that the girl turned to look at him and Aldcroft smiled at her while he was exposing himself.

When the girls got downstairs on the bus they were in a "distressed state" and told the driver what had happened. They said he was still on the bus and the driver rang 999.

Aldcroft, 38, formerly of Cowpen Road, Blyth, tried to claim he had just been "adjusting himself". After getting off the bus, he punched a man in the face because he didn't like the way he was looking at him, having learned what he had been accused of doing.

In victim impact statements, the girls said it affected their education and independence. One them said she was left struggling to cope and had problems using buses as a result of what happened. Her friend added that she struggled to sleep for weeks afterwards and had nightmares about it in which she would see the pervert. She added that she still doesn't feel safe on buses.

The girl who was sexually assaulted said she was an "innocent child" when she fell victim to Aldcroft, adding that as a result of what happened: "I couldn't leave the house without someone with me. It took away my independence. I've had panic attacks and anxiety." She added in words directed at Aldcroft: "I hope you are never able to do this to another person."

Her mum added: "You took away a huge part of her life before it had even begun. She should have been safe on public transport."

Aldcroft was convicted by a jury of exposure, sexual assault, sexual activity in the presence of a child and breaching a sexual harm prevention order and he admitted assault by beating on the man. He was jailed for four years and ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life and will be subject to a lifelong sexual harm prevention order and is barred from working with children or vulnerable adults.

Judge Penny Moreland told him: "What you have done has impacted the lives of those girls in a way they may never recover from."

The court heard Aldcroft has 11 previous convictions. In May 2021 he was given a community order for attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child - a decoy profile purporting to be a 14-year-old girl to whom he sent a picture of his penis. He got another community order in 2022 for breaching that sexual harm prevention order by speaking to his neighbour's children.

Penny Hall, defending, said Aldcroft suffered a brain injury when he was younger and that makes him vulnerable.

Description

25-year-old Rhyss Laws attempted to convince a teenage girl to engage in sexual activity before using force and exposing himself at an address in Ashington on November 19, 2024.

The victim escaped from Laws before reporting the attack to Northumbria Police the following day.

Laws, of Storey Crescent, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, pleaded guilty to the sexual assault and exposure at Newcastle Crown Court last month.

He also admitted offences committed in the Teesside area including dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, drink driving, driving without insurance and criminal damage.

Laws was jailed for 45 months and will remain on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.

He had previously been jailed on charges of sexual assault and assault following a street attack on a woman in Ashington in October 2017.

Detective Inspector Andrew Doyle of Northumbria Police said: “Laws is a dangerous predator and our communities are undoubtedly a safer place as a result of this sentence.

“The victim was subjected to a terrifying ordeal, and I hope this process gives her the closure she needs to start to move on with her life.

“We hope this sentence sends a clear message to victims. You will be listened to, you will be supported, and we will do everything in our power to secure justice on your behalf.”