Latest Offenders Northumberland

Description

Taylor Rowland, of Cramlington, branded himself a 'monstrous person' and 'despicable' after admitting carrying out the repeated sex attacks A monstrous rapist who carried out repeated sex attacks and suggested ways for his victim to kill herself has been jailed for more than 17 years. Taylor Rowland subjected his victim to a campaign of rape and used violence in some of the offences. Newcastle Crown Court heard she said she thought he deliberately hurt her and believed he "enjoyed making me suffer". We reported previously how Rowland, 28, of Cateran Way, Cramlington, Northumberland, had admitted eight counts of rape. He has now been locked up for 17 years and eight months and made subject to an indefinite restraining order and indefinite sex offender registration by Judge Stephen Earl. When arrested and quizzed about his offending, Rowland made full admissions and described himself as a "monstrous person" and said his behaviour had been "despicable". The victim said some of the rapes were violent, including holding her down and punching her. Alec Burns, prosecuting, said: "This is a campaign of rape. She said he was enjoying making her suffer." Mr Burns added: "He suggested ways to kill herself - jumping from the Tyne Bridge and telling her to make sure she did it over the road." When interviewed by police, he said he was "deeply ashamed" of what he had done and admitted incidents which the victim had not mentioned. Mr Burns said: "He described himself as a monstrous person, having hurt her no end and her not deserving it. "Looking back he said he realised how despicable he had been, that he had been monstrous and she deserved none of it." The victim read an impact statement in court outlining the effect the offending has had and saying she didn't think she would ever "truly heal". Gavin Doig, defending, said: "He fully accepts how monstrously he behaved towards her. "The defendant showed unusual candour with the police. It's most unusual for a defendant to make such a clean breast of his offending. "He suffers from a personality disorder and has done since mid adolescence. He has a narcissistic personality disorder and puts his needs ahead of everything else. "He has come to court prepared for a lengthy period of custody having bravely admitted his responsibility and fronted up about his behaviour. "He has grown up now and has to pay the price for his behaviour in the past and is ready to do that."

Description

Police have praised the brave victims who brought a sexual predator to justice.

Kieran Kindley has been convicted of preying on four girls aged between 13 and 17, after carrying out the attacks in the Ashington area last year.

The 20-year-old denied all the allegations put to him but on Friday (September 24) was found guilty of two counts of rape and six counts of sexual assault following a 10-day trial at Newcastle Crown Court.

Speaking after the trial, Detective Constables Dan Anderson and Emma Hooker, who led the investigation, praised the bravery of the victims.

Det Cons Anderson said : "Kieran Kindley is a sexual predator and paedophile, who preyed on teenagers for his own sexual gratification.

"These brave victims came forward to police and I hope they feel a sense of justice.

"I would urge anyone who has been subjected to such attacks to always report it. We are here to help."

Kindley of Lynn Street, Blyth, has been remanded in custody and will be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court in December.

Description

Christopher Carey used social media apps and platforms to detail the things he wanted them to do.

The 43-year-old, from Bedlington, Northumberland, was arrested as the people he had been contacting were in fact police officers.

He pleaded guilty to a number of sexual offences and was sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court.

Carey thought he had befriended three girls, aged 12 and 13, between January and May this year, Northumbria Police said.

'Continued to offend'

He began by sharing non-explicit selfies and messages before changing the tone of conversations and describing how he wanted to "kiss and cuddle" the youngsters, as well as give details of sexual acts he wanted them to perform.

Carey, of Elmfield Court, was sentenced on Monday having previously admitted inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual acts, four counts of engaging in sexual communication with a child and breaching a sexual offences prevention order which had been issued in 2017.

Commenting after the sentencing, Det Insp Rachel Lewis said Carey had been "completely undeterred" by the 10-year order preventing him engaging with youngsters in such a way and "continued to offend".

She added the strong evidence presented to the court meant he had no choice but to plead guilty.

Carey must also sign the sex offenders register for life and was given a lifetime sexual harm prevention order.

Description

A sexual predator who raped his sleeping victim has been jailed.

Joshua Robson raped his victim in October 2018 while she slept and when she woke up in pain he pretended to be asleep.

But the 20 year-old victim bravely reported the incident to police straight away and an investigation was launched by Northumbria Police's Safeguarding unit.

Robson, 23, was arrested and denied the allegation but a jury at Newcastle Crown Court saw through his lies and was found guilty of one count of rape on Friday, July 31.

On Friday, August 27, he was sentenced to five and a half years at Teesside Crown Court.

Detective Constable Catherine Burns, who led the investigation, praised the bravery of the victim and hopes it will give other victims the courage to report.

Det Con Burns said: "I really commend the bravery of the victim as she has been so strong throughout this investigation.

"Robson took advantage of a situation for his own sexual gratification and has shown no remorse for what he has done. Now he faces the consequences of his actions.

"I hope this sends a strong message that any sexual contact that is not consensual is a crime. No one should be subjected to something they do not consent to and if you have been a victim of such an attack, I would urge you to come forward to police.

"I know this conviction will give the victim a sense of justice and hope she can begin to heal after suffering significantly as a result of this attack."

Robson of Esher Place, Cramlington will now also have to sign the sex offenders' register for life.

Description

Police have praised the victims of a predatory pervert after he was convicted of sexually assaulting two women.

Raymond Finn preyed on his adult victims as he worked as a festive entertainer in December 2018.

Finn, who played the role of Santa Clause, was immediately dismissed from the job and he was reported to police.

An investigation was launched by Northumbria Police's safeguarding unit and Finn was arrested.

The 71-year-old denied the allegations but in May a jury at Newcastle Crown Court convicted him of three counts of sexual assault.

The court was told Finn had 'smacked the bum' of one victim pushed his groin into her. He then tried to pull his body against the second victim.

Yesterday (Wednesday), he was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for 18 months.

Detective Constable Frank Cox, leading the investigation, hoped the conviction would give some closure to the victims and warned that this behaviour is unacceptable.

Det Con Cox said: "Finn is a predator who thought it was acceptable to sexually touch women without their consent. It is simply not acceptable and we will take action to put such offenders before the courts.

"At no point has Finn shown any remorse for what he has done. But with thanks to the victims for speaking out, he has been convicted of his actions."

Finn, of Brentwood Avenue, Newbiggin by the Sea, was also handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and will also have to sign the Sex Offender's Register for a period of seven years.

Description

A pensioner who subjected a young girl to a campaign of rape which left her traumatised for life has been jailed for 23 years.

John Gillis, 81, arrogantly thought he had got away with the despicable abuse he carried out many years ago.

But justice has finally caught up with him and he is now likely to die in prison as he was told he must serve two-thirds of the 23 years behind bars.

As Gillis, known as Jack, was locked up at Newcastle Crown Court, his victim said he will have to carry the shame of being a paedophile "for the rest of your pathetic life".

The woman, who was just seven at the time, said: "He was like a beast on the prowl and I was his prey.

"I felt worthless and have tried to commit suicide several times as I felt I couldn't live with the shame of what he did."

She added: "Jack, where you are today, because of your arrogance, you believed yourself invincible but you have been proved wrong and justice has been met.

"You have to carry the brand paedophile for the rest of your life.

"May you languish in prison for the rest of your pathetic life

Gillis, of Plessey Road, Blyth, Northumberland, was convicted after a trial in May of six counts of rape, three of them when the victim was under 13, and two of indecent assault.

Judge Tim Gittins told him: "You vilely abused her, raping her repeatedly despite the obvious distress and pain you knew you were causing her."

When the victim tried to tell Gillis' mother what he had done, when she was 15, she was dismissed and denounced as a liar, the court heard.

Judge Gittins said Gillis did everything he could to create the impression she was making it up.

He added: "You arrogantly dismissed her complaint and, frankly, dismissed her as a human being.

"There has been no shame from you, no contrition.

"Even when cornered in cross-examination, you still sought to blame her, telling the court she was coming on to you."

Judge Gittins said the truth is now out as a result of the victim's courage.

He added: "You were a paedophile and a serial rapist of her and she is a survivor but at an almost catastrophic cost to almost every aspect of her life.

"You sought to say she was vindictive when in fact it was the other way around.

"You were clearly a dangerous offender as a young adult."

As well as the prison sentence, Gillis will be on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Phil Gibbs, defending, said: "He may well spend the rest of his life in prison. He is an elderly man.

"It's a difficult age to find himself in prison. Every day will be difficult.

"He has always been active and his first few weeks of enforced idleness has been a punishment for him."

Description

A "dangerous" paedophile teacher who tricked young teenage boys into filming themselves performing sex acts has been jailed for 17 years.

Dean Davidson, 38, admitted 18 sexual offences over 10 years, including possession of indecent images of children, online exploitation of young teenagers and indecently touching boys.

The defendant, of Brockwood Court, Ashington, Northumberland, who taught in a number of schools in the North East of England, "posed as a good-looking blonde girl" online, one of his victims said.

In other cases he used a male alter-ego, depending on the sexuality of his young victims, Newcastle Crown Court was told.

The disgraced defendant held his head in his hands during the lengthy sentencing hearing, during which statements from 27 victims were heard.

Andrew Epsley, prosecuting, said Davidson was "a dangerous offender" who tricked some of his victims, now adults, after contacting them on social media.

In some cases, he posed as a sexually adventurous older girl, and cajoled them into performing sexual acts on camera.

Davidson, without their knowledge, made recordings of those videos, the court heard.

One told the court he had remained in contact for years with what he thought was a woman, but which was actually Davidson.

The man only realised the deception when detectives approached him and showed him video of himself as a boy aged around 13 performing sex acts.

Officers had recovered the video from Davidson's electronic devices.

The victim said: "I had been enticed by who I thought was a girl showing me attention at a very early age.

"Over the years it had been casual, friendly, on occasions flirtatious and sexual.

"I feel deceived and misled."

Another victim said he felt anxious in public in case Davidson had shared videos of him as a young teen, adding he felt "violated".

And another said he recalled making friends online with that he thought was a girl who asked him to do "weird things - stuff I would never dream of doing as an adult".

David Comb, defending, said Davidson was "ashamed and upset" by his conduct.

He added: "He genuinely enjoyed his work and he had a commitment to it, but he was also a confused, isolated and closeted young man who had been unable to establish or maintain healthy relationships with adults."

Judge Sarah Mallett sentenced him to serve 17 years in jail, with a six-year extended period.

Referring to his victims, she said: "Several of them have described their lives, as a result, are in ruins."

Description

A paedophile is back behind bars after he was convicted of sick sex attacks on a seven-year-old girl.

Glen Dickinson had already served a prison sentence for abusing another young girl when she was aged under 10.

Now he has been jailed for 11 years after the second victim bravely came forward to tell police what he had done to her.

As he was locked up at Newcastle Crown Court, a victim impact statement from the girl was read out.

She said she had been left with anxiety and depression and had to move as she felt like people knew what had happened.

She added: "I'm scared to go out by myself and I can't face going anywhere near the area where this happened.

"I have flashbacks and nightmares about what happened and I struggle to get to sleep.

"Even though he was put in jail it doesn't take away what he did to me.

"I'm left with this my whole life and it doesn't go away. It doesn't give me peace that he's in jail, no sentence ever would.

"The abuse has had a catastrophic effect. I'm also serving a sentence, except mine is for life."

Dickinson, 37, of Kearsley Close, Seaton Delaval, Northumberland, was found guilty by a jury of two serious sexual assaults on the child.

It was in 2014 that he was convicted of the earlier sex offences on the first victim. The new offending happened before that but only came to light more recently.

Judge Tim Gittins said Dickinson had an "abhorrent paedophilic interest" in young girls.

Referring to the victim, he added: "She had a bear a dreadful secret and has been deeply affected by your actions towards her and continues to be so."

The judge said the abuse had left the girl "hurt and distressed".

He added: "What you have done to her will endure, no doubt, for some time."

Judge Gittins said Dickinson poses a substantial risk to girls of cause serious harm and concluded he is a dangerous offender."

He was jailed for 11 years with an extended licence period of a further year.

Sex offender registration and a sexual offences prevention order imposed in 2014 continue to be in force.

Description

A predatory sailor subjected a young boy to an "utterly vile" campaign of rape - during which he showed him sick videos of other children being abused and filmed his own horrific attacks.

To the outside world, John Henderson was a trusted and respected member of the armed forces, having served in the Royal Navy for 16 years.

But today he can be unmasked as a paedophile who stole a little boy's innocence in a series of sordid attacks to fulfil his "warped desires" - sometimes buying him gift cards in return for hurting him.

Even after being arrested by military police and suspended when footage of him attacking the boy was found on his phone, Henderson continued to abuse his innocent victim.

As the 32-year-old, of Amble, Northumberland, was jailed for 14 years for eight counts of rape, four sexual assaults and two indecent images offences, the victim's family told of their devastation and disgust.

In a victim impact statement which the boy's mum read out at Newcastle Crown Court, facing Henderson and aiming it at him directly at times, she said: "I got a phone call from social services, the type of phone call any family would dread.

"This is when I found out he had been sexually abusing my little boy. I was stunned and our world fell apart.

"It's as if we are living in nightmare. I keep thinking I will wake up and everything will be alright. I cry every day.

"(The victim) had always been a happy boy but he is different now, he seems confused and doesn't understand what is happening and he suddenly bursts into tears. I don't know how to make this right."

Turning to Henderson, she said: "How could you sexually abuse (my son). What have you done to him?

"What if he becomes a sex offender, copying you.

"You have robbed him of his innocence and in my troubled mind all I keep asking is why. Why did you do it? Why (my son)? Why me?"

She said her son had begun to draw "disturbing pictures" referring to "hate and die" and she is concerned about the impact on him.

The victim's dad added in a statement read to the court: "I was heartbroken to discover the abuse my son has endured.

"I have watched his behaviour deteriorate and become confrontational and I think this was as a result of the abuse he was subjected to.

"John Henderson deprived him of his innocence and he will forever be scarred by John Henderson's vile actions.

"I now look at everyone as a potential child predator and I feel I failed him by failing to protect him.

"I'm so worried about his future, John Henderson has destroyed my son's childhood. He abused my son and took his innocence away and the hate I feel for him is unbearable. He disgusts me."

The offences began to come to light when the Navy police received information and began to investigate him.

His mobile phone was seized and chat logs were found between him and the youngster.

Chats were also found between Henderson and a like-minded pervert based overseas, in which he made various disturbing comments, including: "Had sex with with my little friend this morning".

When the other man said he needed to find a child to have sex with, Henderson replied: "You will one day, try looking at your friends' kids."

The military police officer found a number of videos on the phone showing Henderson abusing the boy, including on his birthday.

In an online chat with another man from Los Angeles, Henderson told him he was "having fun" with the victim, who he referred to as a "super sexy boy".

A police investigation identified who the victim was and when he was interviewed, he revealed Henderson had bought him gift cards to engage in sexual activity with him.

Prosecutor Ian Mullarkey said: "He said he showed him adult gay porn and child pornography involving an adult male and a young boy.

"The complainant said he thought it was quite weird, that it was shocking him and the defendant did it and it was even more shocking other people did it as well."

Henderson was told he will serve up to half of the 14 year prison sentence. He must also sign the sex offenders register for life and was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order and a restraining order for life.

Judge Julie Clemitison told him: "He is a little boy in pain who is struggling to deal with what you did to him.

"He and his family have had their lives turned upside down by your behaviour, which can only be described as utterly selfish and utterly vile.

"His mother describes her fears for the future - all of this so you can satisfy your own warped desires. One can only imagine the pain this family must be suffering."

The judge, who said Henderson gave the boy gift cards "in return for allowing you to hurt him", said he poses a high risk of carrying out further sexual abuse of children.

Geoff Knowles, defending, said: "He served 16 years in the Navy and did active service on two tours.  He had for many years led a very productive and exemplary life."

He added that Henderson had mental health issues and blamed himself for the death of his father, who died following a fall after drinking with him.

Mr Knowles added: "None of that, of course, takes away from the truly dreadful acts he them committed against the complainant. He knows that.

"He says sorry through me but he knows it's simply not enough, it never could be, and he knows they will never forgive him.  He feels shame and remorse for what he put this little boy and his family through and he asks me to apologise."

Description

A man was found with a vile collection of more than 3,000 indecent images of children when police searched his Northumberland home.

Christopher Cooper had the photos and movies, some of which were of the most serious category A kind, on a computer and mobile phone at his house in Stocksfield.

A court heard that specialist officers from Northumbria Police searched the 52-year-olds address after concerns were raised that he was downloading the sick pictures on August 9 last year.

Numerous electrical devices were seized and interrogated and a total of 3,349 child abuse images and videos were discovered, prosecutors said.

Cooper, of Branch End Terrace, Stocksfield, appeared at North Tyneside Magistrates Court to plead guilty to four counts of making indecent images of children.

Laura Croft, prosecuting, said officers who searched Coopers address seized a number of electrical devices, including memory cards, a computer tower and a mobile phone.

The seized items were then interrogated by police, Miss Croft told magistrates.

When examined, the mobile phone revealed 10 category C images and, on the computer, there was over 3,000 indecent images of children of all categories.