Locations
South Dene, South Shields, South Tyneside, NE34
Description
‘I said no. I told him to stop. He did not. He showed no regard for me or my consent’ – those are the words of a victim-survivor after the man who raped her is jailed for nine years.
Calvin White, 35, raped and sexually assaulted the woman numerous times across various addresses in the North East – despite her making repeated pleas to tell him ‘no’.
It wasn’t until the victim-survivor courageously disclosed the attacks to a health professional that White’s offending came to light.
Amongst the evidence were messages between the pair where the woman had confronted White about what he had done, to which he replied ‘What? When I raped you?’
After the offences were reported to Northumbria Police, White was arrested and questioned in connection with the reports.
In interview, White denied any wrongdoing, claiming everything which had happened had been consensual. He also denied sending any of the text messages.
In spite of this, following a complex investigation, White, of South Dene, South Tyneside, was charged with a slew of offences.
He continued to deny the charges, however, on the first day of his trial at Newcastle Crown Court in July, he pleaded guilty to six offences: three counts of rape and three counts of assault by penetration.
He appeared back at the same court last Monday (September 28) for his sentencing hearing where the victim-survivor described how much the abuse had affected her via Victim Personal Statement (VPS).
She said:
“Since the abuse, I have suffered from severe anxiety and paranoia. I lived in constant fear that he was watching me or would come after me.
“The abuse isolated me from friends and made me feel completely alone. I became withdrawn and stopped going out unless absolutely necessary. The only times I left the house were to go to work and back.
“I did all my shopping online because I couldn’t face being around people. I was exhausted, mentally and physically.
“I couldn’t sleep. I lost my sense of security and stability.
“Even now, years later, I still struggle with the lasting impact. I don’t trust men. When I go for a walk and a man looks at me, I feel deeply uncomfortable, sometimes panicked.
I avoid eye contact, turn around, and walk the other way. These reactions are automatic, and they show how deeply this trauma is still embedded in me.”
Talking about the abuse itself, she said:
“I said no. I told him to stop. He did not. He showed no regard for me or my consent.
“The memory of those moments will stay with me forever.
“This experience has changed me. I’ve lost my sense of safety, my trust in people, and parts of who I used to be. I am still trying to recover.
“I want the court to understand that although the abuse may have ended physically, I continue to carry the emotional, mental, and financial consequences with me every day.”
White was handed a nine-year prison sentence by a judge at Newcastle Crown Court.
White will also spend the rest of his life on the Sex Offenders’ Register and was given indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Orders (SHPO) and restraining orders.
Leading on the case was Northumbria Police’s Detective Constable Wood, she said:
“I’d firstly like to highlight the bravery of the victim-survivor in this case.
“The courage and determination she has shown throughout this process has ultimately led us to holding White to account for the attacks he carried out against her.
“While the sentence is no retribution for what she’s had to endure at White’s hands – I hope it can provide some closure and help her move forward.”
She added:
“White has demonstrated repeatedly that he does not understand the concept of ‘no means no’ – despite claiming that he does.
“Sex without consent is rape; it’s as simple as that.
“And that is something no-one should ever have to experience.
“Please know, if you’ve been a victim of any form of abuse – we are here for you and we will support you.”