Latest Offenders Sunderland

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A predator has been put behind bars for 13 years for raping a vulnerable teenage boy.

Paul Evennett took advantage of a "desperately vulnerable" teenage boy who was confused about his sexuality and went on to rape him after inviting him on a day trip to the seaside. The 55-year-old left the boy battling psychological issues and contemplating suicide.

Evennett, of Washington, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court on Thursday to be sentenced for three counts of rape. He denied the offence but was found guilty following a trial.

The court heard that Evennett committed the offences in the Gateshead area in 2018 and had befriended the boy and his family. The boy was said to be "confused" about his sexuality and had suffered bullying in school and was "particularly vulnerable" due to his personal circumstances.

The court heard that on one day in 2018, Evennett invited the teen to the beach, and took him for a drive before buying him a McDonald's. Later, they went back to a home to watch films and it was there that Evennett raped him.

Following the incident, Evennett continued to send multiple messages to the victim, which put the teen under "intense pressure".

In a statement, the now-adult victim branded Evennett a "monster" and said at the time of the rape, he had been struggling with his life and sexuality but that Evennett had "pretended to be concerned for me and my welfare".

He said on the day of the rape offences, Evennett had been asking him "personal, uncomfortable questions". Following the rape, the victim struggled with school and dealt with flashbacks.

Speaking of the messages Evennett continued to send him, he said: "I was always being reminded by the monster who attacked me that he was still there." The statement added that when Evennett went to trial, it was the "darkest time" of the victim's life, and he even contemplated suicide.

Jane Waugh, defending, said Evennett was a father who was being supported by his family and was of previous good character. She said: "He is someone who has held down a good job as a manager at a local store. The offences happened on one day on one occasion, and he will live with this for the rest of his life." Ms Waugh added Evennett will make use of his time in prison.

Judge Amanda Rippon said Evennett "took advantage of a desperately vulnerable young man who was confused about his sexuality". She said the rape had a "devastating impact" on the victim.

Evennett was jailed for 13 years and will be on the sex offender's register for life. A lifetime sexual harm prevention order was also imposed.

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A pervert who wanted to meet a child 50 years younger than him was snared by paedophile hunters for the second time.

David Pick had already been caught by online vigilantes once when he started talking to a profile on social media who initially purported to be an 18-year-old called Charlotte but soon told him she was only 13.

Undeterred, the 63-year-old sex offender started sending sexual messages and the conversation moved to WhatsApp and he requested sexual images of her. Among the messages he sent were "I bet you would like to be having sex with me" and "let me see you in the shower with nothing on".

Newcastle Crown Court heard he also send two images of his penis and even discussed travelling from Sunderland to Preston, where he thought Charlotte lived.

In fact he was talking to a member of a paedophile hunting group called Secrets and Lies Confronted and he was confronted at his home by the vigilantes and another group and police were called.

Pick, of Derwent Street, Easington Lane, Sunderland, was also found to have breached a sexual harm prevention order imposed in 2018 by deleting most of the messages he had sent to Charlotte.

Pick has 47 previous convictions, including the almost identical offending in 2018 and breaching the sexual harm prevention order in 2019 by deleting his internet history. For the latest offending, he admitted attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and breaching the sexual harm prevention order and was jailed for 20 months. He was given a new, indefinite sexual harm prevention order and must sign the sex offenders register for ten years.

Martin Scarborough, defending, said Pick suffers from physical and mental health issues which will make his time in prison harder.

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A pervert who wanted to meet a child to have sex with her was snared by paedophile hunters.

Michael Hawthorne made contact with a profile purporting to be a 14-year-old girl online and quickly turned the conversation sexual. He asked for images and said he wanted to meet to consume alcohol and engage in sexual activity.

In fact it was a decoy profile being run by a vigilante group called the Child Online Safety Team and he was detained when he arranged to meet the "child". After being released on bail, Hawthorne went on to assault and intimidate a vulnerable woman and he has now been jailed.

Newcastle Crown Court heard it was in September 2021 that Hawthorne was in communication with the decoy profile. He inquired about her knowledge of sex and asked for pictures.

Annelise Haugstad, prosecuting, said: "He messaged her about meeting up and there's talk of sex taking place either in a public toilet or his shared accommodation after they had bought alcohol with her holiday money. He made repeated requests to have sex with her. He said if anyone makes inquiries about her age to tell them she was 19 and that she should wear make-up to help her look older."

After being arrested for that and released, he went on to form a short relationship with a vulnerable woman. Within two days of meeting her, he "took advantage of her kindness" and moved in. Miss Haugstad said: "He refused to leave her flat, he ate her food, made her pay for drugs and alcohol and stopped her meeting friends."

He ended up being removed and arrested and was bailed by police not to return but he then assaulted her and threatened if she didn't drop the charges he would torch her flat with her in it.

The 40-year-old, formerly of Blyth but now of High Street East, Sunderland, who has 55 previous convictions, pleaded guilty to arranging or facilitating a child sex offence, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming, assault and witness intimidation. He was jailed for a total of three years and eleven months and must sign the sex offender's register indefinitely. He was also made subject to indefinite sexual harm prevention and restraining orders.

David Callan, defending, said: "He has not had an easy life, he had a rough upbringing. He has an alcohol dependency. It's the first time he has committed a sexual offence." The court heard he has some learning difficulties and mental health issues.

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A terrified woman was forced to have sex with a violent and unstable thug to save the life of a man she was out on a first date with.

The victim was walking home from Sunderland city centre with her date and making plans to meet him again when they were targeted by Sean Robinson without warning.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Robinson kicked the man in the face and then subjected him to a 'severe' beating before leaving him unconscious and bleeding on the ground.

The woman, in her 20s, was then told by Robinson: 'If you come and have sex with me I will not kill him.'

Prosecutor Jane Waugh told the court in a desperate bid to save the man's life the courageous victim had endured the sickening ordeal.

Miss Waugh told the court: 'She had witnessed the horrific violence and knew what he was capable of. She decided, in order to save his life and protect herself from the defendant's unpredictable violence, she would have to agree to have sex with him so he would leave [the man] alone.'

The court heard Robinson, who was then 17, forced the victim to lie on an old coat he found near some bushes and raped her.

Miss Waugh added: 'She was crying through this whole attack. The defendant told her, "If you stop I will go and kill him you know".

'She continued to cry as he raped her. The defendant said, "Shut up and stop being a baby".'

Judge Stephen Earl said Robinson is 'dangerous' and sentenced him to five years behind bars with an extended three-year licence period, with sex offender registration and a restraining order to protect the victims for life.

The judge said it was an 'abominable' attack with 'catastrophic' consequences for the victims and told him: 'You told her, "Come and have sex with me and I will not kill him", knowing, of course, you had meted out a severe beating to [the man] at that point, she has seen and knew what you were capable of at that time.

'In order to protect herself and reasonably to protect the life of her new friend, she decided to go along with your suggestion that she have sex with you.

'It was not consensual sex, it was not penetration she gave willingly to.

'Throughout the attack you were telling her off for crying, saying if you had to stop because she was under enthusiastic about this awful assault you had the option to go back and mete out further punishment to the man.'

The court heard the attack started when the couple were walking home together after their first date in the summer of 2021, when they heard shouting behind them as they approached a bypass near the University metro station.

Miss Waugh said: 'Unprovoked and without warning the defendant launched himself at the man and punched him a number of times.

'He tried to get away, he didn't want to fight and made that very clear, he was saying, "Mate, I don't want to fight".'

Miss Waugh said as the man tried to get away, Robinson chased him, caught him, punched him to the ground then started kicking him.

Eventually, the violence was halted and the couple managed to run off across a metro bridge.

By this point, the man was 'exhausted and bleeding' and the woman was 'almost carrying him' in a desperate attempt to get away.

But Miss Waugh added: 'Next thing they were aware of was the defendant had caught up with them and began attacking the man again, kicking him in the head when he was down.'

The court heard it was a brutal kick to the face that knocked the man unconscious before the woman was raped.

After the attack, Robinson told the woman he would leave her alone if she agreed to come to his house.

Fortunately, she was able to make a call to her parents, who alerted the police and drove to the scene to save her.

Robinson was still in the area, where the victim had waited with the unconscious man after the attack, when her parents arrived.

The victim's father warned Robinson 'I'm going to f****** kill you' and there were punches thrown before the rapist ran off and was later caught by the police.

It was only when he got to the hospital that the man who was attacked during the date found out about the rape.

Both victims suffered psychological and physical injury.

In a victim statement, the woman said the time since the attack has been the 'worst of my life' and added that she has felt 'stuck reliving the traumatic experience over and over again, becoming a prisoner in my own head'.

The woman said her ordeal, which 'cannot be summarised by words alone' has been worsened by court delays and the fact Robinson initially denied raping her.

She said: 'On the day I was told he pleaded guilty to raping me I just wanted to cry and cry. For the first time in what seemed like forever there were tears of relief not sadness.'

The woman said she and her family will never be the same after the 'pain and grief' that has been caused but added: 'My only consolation is he will receive a lengthy custodial sentence, in which time we can rebuild our lives to resemble what we once knew'.

Robinson, 18, admitted assault and rape.

Lorraine Mustard, defending, said Robinson understands the trauma he caused that day, is remorseful for it and added: 'He accepts he's ruined their lives.'

Miss Mustard said Robinson had a difficult childhood and spent time in the care system but has 'hope' for a better future.

'I wish I could have helped her'
The man said in his victim statement the date of the attack should have been a memorable one as it was his first meeting with the woman and they had planned to see each other again.

But he added: 'This date is etched into my memory for all the wrong reasons.

'While walking home we were brutally attacked without reason.

'I tried to defend myself and [the woman] the best I could but the male overpowered me.

'The last memory I have of this is waking up dazed and seeing a male standing over me and a look of terror on her face.

'At the time I didn't know what had happened but have since found out she was raped.

'The feeling of guilt has persisted. I forever wish I could have helped her.'

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A woman did not know she was sexually assaulted until she was told by police after passing out on a train, a court has heard.

The victim took prescription drugs that rendered her unconscious on a Metro train from Gateshead to South Shields on the evening of April 19 last year.

During the journey she was preyed upon by Leon Clarkson, 21, who told witnesses he was her boyfriend and has now been spared jail.

They saw him repeatedly putting his hand down her leggings while she was totally unconscious and unable to sit up.

A woman who saw what Clarkson, from Houghton, Sunderland, was doing felt uncomfortable and messaged her boyfriend who called police.

He told the witness that she was just a bit dizzy, but when he got her to her feet and led her off the train at Four Lane Ends the onlooker messaged her boyfriend who called police.

Another passenger saw him carrying her and asked what was happening, but Clarkson said the victim had had a joint and her mother was going to pick her up.

When police arrived she was very drowsy from taking three diazepam tablets so she was taken to hospital.

The victim told Newcastle Crown Court: ‘I had taken medication before I got on the Metro and I have no recollection of what happened to me.

‘The police investigating the crime told me what happened. This made me feel ill and very anxious.

‘I didn’t know who this man was. I didn’t even know what was happening to me. I was very vulnerable at that point and I think it’s terrible he could do that on a Metro in front of other people.

‘I’m very worried he will do this again to a vulnerable woman or girl. When I see a drunk girl or woman I now always tell them to get home safe and I worry about them.

‘I truly believe if he is capable of doing this in front of witnesses on a busy Metro train he could do something worse to someone else.’

Clarkson, who was previously convicted for committing a sex act on a bus, admitted sexual assault.

Recorder Tahir Khan KC told him: ‘The complainant was completely at your mercy and you took advantage of her by touching her when she clearly could not be consenting.’

He ordered him to take part in a sex offender programme and was put on the sex offenders’ register for five years.

Defending him, Jamie Adams said that he was a vulnerable man and had apologised for what happened.

He said: ‘The unfortunate complainant didn’t know just how vulnerable this young man is. He has mental health problems and he was taking lots of cannabis at the time.’

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A Newton Aycliffe vicar and an Alnwick priest have been jailed for their sickening historic abuse of young boys.

George Granville Gibson was the vicar of a Newton Aycliffe church in the late 1970s when he indecently assaulted a teenager. Durham Crown Court heard that Gibson a leader of a church group and committed the offences during rehearsals for a pantomime and then later at a house party following the show's run.

Judge James Adkin said Gibson would "seek out" a young man and indecently assault him "in the company of others" by rubbing against his body and "appeared to enjoy" their presence.

Gibson, who is now 86-year-old, was found guilty of two indecent assaults after being convicted by a jury and jailed for 21 months. He will be on the sex offender's register for 10 years.

Sentencing Gibson in November, Judge Adkin said: "You were the Parish priest, revered and completely trusted to promote Christian values in the community. Sex offenders in positions of authority must know they will be sent to prison if they abuse children in the community."

In December, Chronicle Live reported how another clergyman was locked up for carrying out sex attacks on a young boy.

Perverted priest David Taylor, from Alnwick, ruined the life of a young boy with sickening sex attacks in a church and on Holy Island. The court heard the abuse happened in a church vestry, at a retreat on Holy Island, in an old convent and also during a trip to a football tournament.

Prosecutor Vince Ward said: "These were religious venues where he would have expected to be safeguarded but wasn't."

The victim said the first time it happened was when he was put under Taylor's gown and made to do a sex act.

The victim kept his abuse a secret for four decades, fearing he would never be believed over the trusted churchman. Now he finally has justice after Taylor was convicted of ten offences, of indecency with a child and indecent assault.

The victim said: "I was angry and confused and started to blame myself for what happened. I felt disgusted I had allowed Father Taylor to abuse me in the way he had.

"The abuse has affected my work life and my personal relationships. My anger issues have caused many of my relationships to break down and I believe this is because of my childhood abuse. My mental health has suffered also."

Newcastle Crown Court heard Taylor had been convicted of five offences of indecent assault against boys in the 1980s in 2009 when he was jailed for 30 months. And in 2017 he got a suspended sentence for another count of indecent assault.

Judge Julie Clemitson sentenced Taylor, of Angel Lane, Alnwick, Northumberland, to 13 years in prison for his latest offences and he must sign the sex offenders register for life. The judge told Taylor he'd had a sexual interest in boys from an early stage in his career, having been ordained in 1977.

Judge Clemitson said: "There were so many occasions he can't recall them. It seems to him there were hundreds of them because it happened so often in various places. Throughout this long process you have protested your innocence, saying you had no recollection of him. That clearly can't be true.

"His victim impact statement describes the devastating impact your abuse has had for the last 40 years - that's almost the entirety of his life he has had to live under the shadow of what you did to him as a child.

"He was particularly vulnerable due to his age, where he was - in the vestry on his own and away from home at Holy Island, separated from others in your bedroom."

Lorraine Mustard, defending, said Taylor continues to protest his innocence.

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A paedophile who thought he was chatting to a child online has got his comeuppance after he had actually been speaking to an undercover cop.

Darran Faith, from Sunderland, made indecent images of children and attempted to engage one of them in a sexual act.

But little did he know that he was actually speaking to an undercover police officer from Northumbria Police who had been building a mountain of evident against him.

Officers seized a number of devices from the 43-year-old’s home including his laptop, which contained multiple indecent images of children.

Faith was interviewed in January 2021 after engaging in sexual communications with a child online.

He was later charged with attempting sexual communication with a child and making indecent images of children, and pleaded guilty to all counts at South Tyneside Magistrates Court on October 27.

Yesterday (Wednesday November 30) Faith appeared at Newcastle Crown Court where he was sentenced to 12 months behind bars, suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to 35 days rehab, 10 years sex offender notification requirement and a 10 year sexual harm prevention order.

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A paedophile has been hauled back in front of a judge for creating a false name on a football forum and deleting his internet history.

James McGuire was given a suspended sentence in January last year after being found in possession of indecent images of children and extreme porn. The 40-year-old was also put on the sex offenders register for 10 years and was made subject of a sexual harm prevention order, meaning he must abide by certain conditions including not deleting any internet browsing history.

But on Thursday, McGuire, of Eglington Tower, Monkwearmouth, Sunderland, appeared back at Newcastle Crown Court after breaching the sexual harm prevention order and failing to comply with notification requirements between January 11 and March 21, last year. 

Kevin Wardlaw, prosecuting, said McGuire's breaches came to light when police officers carried out a routine check of his mobile phone. He said: "They discovered the defendant had deleted his entire internet history from that device. The failing to comply offences relate to two pseudonyms." Mr Wardlaw said McGuire also used "false names" online, one of which was on a football forum and another on an Instagram account.

The court heard that nothing illegal had been deleted by McGuire and he said he had been accessing adult pornography on his mobile and deleted the history to prevent his daughter from seeing it.

In mitigation, the court was told that McGuire had been accessing a Sunderland football club forum under the name "Jimmy Riddle". Mr Pickford, defending, said: "On these forums you're encouraged to use usernames rather than actual names. The last post he put on (the forum) was about Metro disruptions." He added that McGuire was a "hard working man" who had been "ostracised" by members of his family since his conviction and used a different name on Instagram so that he could stay informed about his daughter.

Recorder Paul Reid said McGuire had a conviction for "very unpleasant offences" and sentenced him to 10 months prison, suspended for 18 months.

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A sex attacker who plied a woman with alcohol then raped her when she was unconscious has been jailed.

Ian Howdon waited until the victim was heavily intoxicated before taking advantage of her. When she came round during the degrading attack, she was horrified at what he was doing.

Howdon, just 19 at the time, denied any wrongdoing but was convicted by a jury of two counts of rape. Now the 21-year-old, of Hendon Burn Avenue, Sunderland, has been jailed for eight years and three months by a judge at Newcastle Crown Court.

Judge Robert Spragg told him: "You were plying her with alcohol that night, I'm satisfied you were trying to get her drunk. You fully intended to have sex with her that night.

"She became increasingly drunk, she describes herself as passed out drunk and a friend said she was nine out of ten drunk. You didn't care by this stage she was so drunk she couldn't possibly have consented.

"She had been sick and was essentially passed out when you raped her."

The court heard a camera outside the window of the room where the attack happened picked up an audio recording, which the judge said was "absolutely harrowing".

In addition, the court heard there was a recording of the 999 call made by the woman after she realised what was happening. Judge Spragg said: "The terror in her voice was awful to hear."

The court heard Howdon has never been in trouble before and handed in references, including one from a rugby club, about his ordinarily positive character. Gavin Doig, defending, said Howdon's behaviour in custody has been exemplary" and he has been praised by prison officials after he assisted another inmate during a medical emergency. Mr Doig added that Howdon is still young and was "immature" at the time he committed the offence.

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A paedophile was found with a hoard of sickening indecent images of children - some of which were as young as three years old.

Scott Broadbent was found with over 1,300 indecent images and videos, as well as over 2,000 prohibited images, and extreme pornography involving animals. The 37-year-old was caught after police raided his home and he admitted he'd been downloading the illegal material.

Former Nissan worker, Broadbent, of Philip Square, Plains Farm, Sunderland, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court on Thursday to be sentenced for three counts of making indecent images, possession of extreme porn, and possession of a prohibited image of a child. He had pleaded guilty to the charges at a previous hearing.

The court heard that police executed a warrant at Broadbent's home address on September 25, 2019 and searched his bedroom before he told them: "I've downloaded some stuff, I know I shouldn't have deleted it all." He then directed them to a computer monitor and a number of electronic devices were seized, including laptops, phones and storage devices.

On three devices, a total of 711 category A videos and 37 images were found, along with 212 category B videos and 55 images, and 101 category C videos and 247 images. A total of 2,011 prohibited images and three videos were also discovered, as well as 212 extreme porn videos and 212 images.

The court heard that four devices contained "searches and key works" relating to indecent images and one device contained peer-to-peer file sharing. The ages of the children depicted in the indecent material were between the ages of three and 16, the court heard.

Susan Hirst, defending, said Broadbent had committed no further offences since he was first arrested and had pleaded guilty early to the offences. The court was told that he had lost his job at Nissan when his offences came to light and was "afraid of getting further work" due to his conviction.

Judge Adams, sentencing Broadbent, said the fact that he had downloaded a "large number of videos" aggravated the offence, but said he had been deemed as being at a low risk of reoffending. He said: "You have expressed remorse and lost your job." He added that apart from a previous conviction for assault, he was of "previous good character".

Broadbent was given a 12 month prison sentence, suspended for two years and must complete 40 rehabilitation days and 100 hours unpaid work. He will be on the sex offender's register for 10 years and a 10 year sexual harm prevention order was made.

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A dangerous 'monster' who raped and abused two vulnerable victims has been jailed for life.

Peter Anderson subjected the young women to shocking sex attacks and his victims suffered degrading abuse at his hands. The 30-year-old pervert, of Easington Lane, Houghton-le-Spring, who has 11 previous convictions, including for assault, was convicted of 13 offences.

In relation to the first victim, he was found guilty of two counts of rape, sexual activity with a child, blackmail, false imprisonment and controlling or coercive behaviour. In relation the second victim, he was convicted of four counts of rape, a sexual assault, causing a person to engage in sexual activity and controlling coercive behaviour.

Both victims outlined the severe trauma they endured at his hands, with one of them branding him a "monster" and a judge calling him "an extremely dangerous man". He must serve at least 14 years of the life sentence before he can be considered for parole and will be on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

The first girl, who he first kissed when she was 15, said in a victim impact statement read to Newcastle Crown Court: "Before (this) I was a fun and outgoing young lady, a child. I was absolutely terrified of him.

"I would frequently wake up during the night screaming. I've had repeated nightmares - one I can't forget of him trying to force entry by trying to smash the door. I know it's a nightmare but it's so vivid it feels like a memory.

"He still plagues me in my sleep and I fear this will last the rest of my life. I feel anger at the thought of what one person can do to another."

The second victim said: "I went from an outgoing independent young lady to a shell of my former self. I was terrified of him. The effects are going to last a lifetime.

"I have trouble sleeping and I feel worthless." She added that the trauma left her suicidal.

Sentencing Anderson, Judge Julie Clemitson said: "At trial you represented yourself. You clearly demonstrated repeatedly to be narcissistic, paranoid, domineering and manipulative.

"You adopted one persona in front of the jury and quite another when they were not in the room. You tried to shout me down and lost your temper one time when I tried to speak to (the prosecutor).

"You demonstrated a complete lack of empathy towards (the victims), showing a callous disregard to both of them. You demonstrated how domineering you could be during your evidence. You walked back to the dock making v-signs to the public gallery.

"You conducted your case with breathtaking arrogance, even asking for feedback on your cross-examination of one witness. You displayed absolutely no remorse but in fact demonstrated an arrogant, entitled attitude to them and those who supported them.

"You made various allegations of misconduct towards various professionals involved in the case."

Judge Clemitson added: "You pose a significant risk of causing serious harm in the future to members of the public. You have shown now insight into your own culpability or the harm you have caused and you appear to have an unflappable belief in your own superiority.

"You are very clearly a dangerous offender. It's likely you will pose a serious risk to others indefinitely."

The judge praised the courage of the victims, saying: "Peter Anderson is an extremely dangerous man who has been brought to justice and the public are going to be kept safe for a lengthy period of time as a result of the courage shown by (the victims).

"He is the most difficult person I have dealt with in 30 years in the criminal justice system."

Peter Schofield, defending, said: "It's right to observe Mr Anderson has strong views about his case. Much of what is contended, he does not accept.

"He has not received a custodial sentence previously. He needs specialist help for his personality disorder. He worked for Nissan for more than a year in the past."

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A MAN who ignored a womans pleas to stop, during a rape ordeal, later boasted: She wouldnt give us it, so I took it anyway, when challenged about the incident. The comment would come back to haunt Robert Jeavons, as it formed part of the evidence against him as the case of rape came to court. Appearing at a Durham Crown Court plea hearing in March, the 34-year-old defendant denied three counts of rape alleged against him. A trial was set, with a three-day time estimate, to be staged at the court, in September this year. But on the day the victim appeared for her pre-trial recording of her evidence, last month, Jeavons changed his plea to guilty, relating to one of the alleged incidents. The plea was accepted by the Crown and the other two alleged rape charges were left to lie on the file. Giving her impact statement at the sentencing hearing at court, the rape victim addressed Jeavons and said: Its not okay what you have done to us. You have destroyed my life. I will never forgive you for what you have done. She said she now struggles to sleep, but when she does, she suffers nightmares recalling the ordeal. But she pledged that despite the effects, mentally and physically, of the incident. she can and will attempt to get on with her life. Robin Turton, prosecuting, said the defendant, living at an address in Norfolk Street, Sunderland, recently, has a single unrelated caution on his record for sexual activity with a child under 16, dating from 2008. Ian West, in mitigation, said that previous incident was when Jeavons was aged only 21, at the time. He said by pleading to the current offence when he did, it was well in advance of the full scheduled trial and saved three days of the courts time. Judge James Adkin said it was still only on the day the victim was to give her evidence in the case but he agreed to give Jeavons 15 per cent discount on his sentence to mark the guilty plea. He said the defendant had intercourse with the woman despite her telling him to stop, but, later, effectively confessed. Imposing a total sentence of 61 months imprisonment, five years and one month, he also made Jeavons subject to a lifetime restraining order, prohibiting any attempt to contact or approach the victim. The defendant will also be subject to notification as a sex offender, also for life.

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Stephen Jones, of Sunderland, was subject to restrictions after he was caught by paedophile hunters, including being banned from deleting internet devices A sex offender has been jailed for deleting the history on his phone. Stephen Jones was given a chance to stay out of prison in 2020 when he was caught by paedophile hunters attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming. As part of his sentence for that offence he got a sexual harm prevention order and one of the terms of it was a ban on deleting his internet history. On May 11 this year, police went to his home to check up on him and asked to examine his devices. The 55-year-old, of Gladstone Street, Sunderland, handed over a phone, saying they would not find anything on it. When told there should be something on it, as he was banned from erasing it, he said: "You won't find anything, I wiped it. I like to wipe my phone." He was arrested and replied "S*** I'm going to prison." As well as the conviction from 2020, he was also in court in September last year of failing to comply with his sex offender notification requirements after failing to notify a change of address. And in November he was convicted of a similar breach. For the latest offence, he pleaded guilty to breaching his sexual harm prevention order and was jailed for 18 months. Judge Christopher Prince, at Newcastle Crown Court, told him: "You have got a concerning record in recent times. You are a high risk of sexual offences against children."

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A Sunderland pensioner has been found with over 1,000 images of children being abused.

Police found the content, which included still pictures and videos on Terence Robert's devices, while he was at work.

Newcastle Crown Court heard two mobile phones were seized from the 71-year-old's address in July 2020 and police also found a cloud storage account.

Prosecutor Joe Culley said: "There were 291 category A images including 96 moving images, 214 category B images including 24 video and 560 category C images.

"The material depicts children between the ages one to 15-years-old."

Roberts, of Hewitt Avenue, Sunderland, pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children.

He also admitted being in possession of a prohibited image of a child and possession of an extreme pornographic image.

Mr Culley added: "When he was interviewed on the 8th of July 2020, the defendant admitted possessing the images.

"He also admitted having shared and distributed them on social media although he wasn't charged with that.

"He used his mobile phones for accessing the images. He doesn't have any previous convictions."

The court heard the offending had began in April 2017, before he was caught over three years later when officers searched his home.

Vic Laffey, defending Roberts, who has since lost his job and long-term partner as a result, told the court: "As with all these cases it's a very unattractive case.

"These offences are nearly two years old, I'm not completely sure how it's taken that long for them to get into the court system.

"He pleaded guilty at the Magistrates court at the first opportunity and was fully co-operative with the police in interview.

"He fully understands the position he's placed himself in. It's had a dramatic effect on him and he is somebody more than prepared to work with the probation service."

Judge Stephen Earl said: "I take into account probation are willing to work with the defendant and I do take into account there is work to be done which is unlikely to be assessed in custody."

The judge sentenced Roberts to 16 months behind bars, suspended for two years, along with rehabilitation requirements and a four-month curfew.

He must also abide by a sexual harm prevention order and sign the sex offender's register, both lasting ten years.

Description

A man punched a woman twice in the face while on a night out in Sunderland before sexually assaulting her.

Nathan Maxwell hit the woman to the face twice before doing a runner when witnesses intervened, but later committed a sexual assault on her. The 24-year-old committed the offences in June, last year, with Maxwell punching the woman in the face, before hitting her again on the chin. He appeared at Newcastle Crown Court on Wednesday to be sentenced for common assault and sexual assault.

Emma Dowling, prosecuting, said the woman had been out for the day having drinks in Sunderland, but was unfamiliar with the city, and "was not sure" where she was. Later that day, Maxwell "grabbed" her. "He grabbed her and pulled her back. She tried to pull away, but couldn't", she said. "He suddenly punched her to the right cheek and then punched her again on the chin. She was shocked and went quiet before collapsing.

Ms Dowling said that other revellers saw what happened and "confronted" Maxwell, who then ran away. "The woman was not familiar with the area and people asked if she was OK", she said. The court heard that following the assault, Maxwell also sexually assaulted the woman - who was left with bruising to her chin following the assault.

Brian Hegarty, defending, said Maxwell had no previous convictions of a similar type and was someone who had a "fairly full job history". He added: "He tells me he has a contact at an agency who would be able to use his skills readily."

Sentencing Maxwell, of Glendale Avenue, Concord, Washington, Judge Amanda Rippon, said: "You punched her to the face and to the right cheek. Strangers came to her rescue and told you off, you ran away and she collapsed." The judge handed Maxwell a 12 month prison sentence, suspended for two years and ordered him to carry out 45 rehabilitation activity days. He must also pay 1,000 compensation to the victim within six months, and an indefinite restraining order was also imposed.

Maxwell will also be on the sex offender's register for 10 years. Judge Rippon added: "Any breaches will be reserved to me. You do not want to come back to my court room...you need to grow up."