Latest Offenders Durham

Description

An “entrenched paedophile” exchanged images of young children being sexually abused with an equally depraved individual in the US, a court heard.

Lee Mole, of Blackhall Colliery, County Durham, encouraged his online American “friend” to sexually assault a young girl and asked him to then post images of the abuse on the internet.

Durham Crown Court heard that the nature of the Kick Messenger exchanges came to the attention of US Homeland Security, which led to the arrest of the abuser, in Oregon.

He disclosed having been in contact with a user of the site in the UK, going under the name ‘BigLadBrown181280’, with the email address of the defendant.

Annelise Haugstad, prosecuting, said offending images in category A and B of severity, featuring a girl aged between eight and ten being abused, were sent by the defendant to the man in Oregon.

Miss Haugstad said the nature of the discussions between the pair centred around how they enjoyed sex with very young girls and Mole incited the man in Oregon to abuse a two-year-old child, images of which were sent to the defendant, at his request.

The court heard that at the time of the exchanges with the man in the US, Mole was subject to inquiries by Durham Police over possession of indent images of children, for which he was to plead guilty before receiving a suspended 15-month prison sentence, in October, last year.

Miss Haugstad told the court he also has a similar conviction dating from 2015.

When questioned about the images exchanged with the man in the US, Mole initially denied knowledge of them, but then admitted it was something he had been involved in for six months.

Miss Haugstad said when asked about his sexual interest in children he conceded it was something which aroused him.

The 53-year-old defendant of Hardwick Street, Blackhall Colliery, admitted three counts of making, and one of distributing indecent images of children.

Vic Laffey, in mitigation, said Mole was “well aware” of the situation he was facing.

“He has, at least, been honest with the Probation Service in respect of the problems he has and my advice to him is that the only thing that may save him is that he has been on a two-year order and for one year he has made progress.

“He’s described as working positively with the Probation Service.

“The good work he has done will be effectively lost if he is to receive an immediate custodial sentence.”

Mr Laffey said the defendant suffers with various ailments and is in poor health.

Judge Jo Kidd said the context of Mole’s latest offending was that it took place while under investigation or on bail, pending a review of devices seized in January 2023, on which police were to find numerous indecent images of children.

“You engaged in chat with a man in the US using the Kick Messenger platform.”

Judge Kidd said the defendant incited that man to sexually assault a two-year-old child and sought to obtain images of the abuse.

She said to persuade him to send the images the defendant mentioned having abused young children himself, which she said, “may have been fantasy, but you were clearly inciting him.”

The judge said the defendant was part of a group of people interested in sharing images of the abuse of young children.

“It’s difficult to think of a more disgusting and serious example of these offences against the background of your previous offences.”

She said he had previously been given the opportunity to try to deal with his depraved interest to reduce the likelihood of him repeating it in future.

Description

A "risk-taking" voyeur covertly filmed two women in the bath or showering on separate occasions, in one case after entering the victim’s home as a trespasser.

But when Paul Shields tried to repeat the act, the second woman being filmed, with whom he had an “infatuation”, realised a camera phone was being pointed at her from above the bathroom door.

Durham Crown Court was told she shouted at the intruder and the defendant fled, retreating by the way he entered her home, via a landing window and across roofing.

The woman, who had previously been subject of inappropriate remarks by Shields and the recipient of unwanted presents, one of them a vibrator, informed police and the defendant was arrested later that day.

When interviewed, he said he had seen the woman’s bathroom light going on, at 6.20am that day, February 24, and “on impulse” climbed onto her garage roof and into her home, setting his phone to record.

But when she shouted, he said he, “came to his senses” and left.

He told police he had not viewed any footage he might have captured of the woman in the shower and deleted it from his phone, adding that he was “appalled” at what he had done.

Philip Morley, prosecuting, said subsequent police inquiries revealed this had not been an isolated incident.

It emerged that four months earlier he had also sneaked into the same woman's home and did something similar, but on that occasion without being spotted.

Police discovered it by seizing his mobile phone and finding a video of the same woman in the shower.

She confirmed she was completely unaware any footage had been taken on that occasion, in October last year, which was also at about 6.25am.

Mr Morley said in her statement to police, the shocked victim said she was “sickened” after the discovery of the previous footage, of which she had been unaware.

She said she was worried what his motives were as to what he may have done with that footage.

The victim said she was also concerned how many times he had trespassed into her home to carry out, “such a disgusting and intrusive act”.

Mr Morley said examination of the defendant’s computer hard drive revealed there had been a second victim.

A folder was found with another woman’s first name on, followed by five stars.

It was found to contain 20 videos of another woman in the bath or shower.

That victim was identified, and, when informed, she was horrified to be told of the police discovery.

When interviewed about the package of footage from the computer folder the defendant gave police a prepared statement confessing to having, “an interest in voyeurism”, but he initially claimed the footage was taken with the victim’s consent.

Mr Morley said given the woman’s shocked reaction, “that was clearly not the case at all”.

In her victim statement she said she felt "devastated" any man could have done this and feared it would have a huge impact on her mental health, but she added that despite the “great shock”, she would, “fight it”.

The 55-year-old defendant, of Blencathra Way, Chester-le-Street, admitted one count of trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence and 21 of voyeurism, offences committed in Bowburn and Darlington.

Robin Turton, for Shields, said he has nothing similar on his record, and the only other matters were unrelated and of some age.

Mr Turton said the defendant has struggled for most of his life with his mental health and since committing the offences, assessments have pinpointed potential disorders, including ADHD, which may have played a part in his offending.

The defendant has also sought assistance from a charity dealing with sex offenders to address his offending, work he is keen to continue, outlining the remorse he feels.

Despite his issues, Mr Turton said the defendant has held down a good job, which would be at risk if he was to be jailed.

He added: “This is a man for whom there’s a realistic prospect of rehabilitation with the appropriate support network, so he can put this behind him.

“I would argue that notwithstanding these shameful offences, he is someone who can be sentenced in a constructive way rather than with a custodial sentence.”

But Recorder Andrew Dallas said the defendant had admitted 21 separate cases of voyeuristic activity, which he described as, “extraordinary and worrying behaviour”, which both his unwary victims found, “extremely upsetting and shocking”.

Recorder Dallas told the defendant he displayed, “extraordinary risk taking”, on more than one occasion, “to satisfy your sexual interest in voyeurism”.

The Recorder said it was “concerning” the level of risk the defendant was prepared to take in such circumstances and after being arrested it soon emerged it was not, “a one-off.”

He told Shields: “I take  the view it’s too serious for anything other than an immediate custodial sentence.”

Imposing a three-year sentence, he made Shields subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and restraining orders relating to both women, indefinitely.

Shields will also be subject to notification as a sex offender, also for life.

Forfeiture and destruction was also ordered for the seized phone and the computer hard drive on which the offending material was recovered by police.

Description

A man who repeatedly abused a young girl, treating her, in her words, as, “a sex toy”, was today (Tuesday, October 15) sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment.

Allan Spacey committed the offences on a victim who a judge said he knew was, “young, naïve and vulnerable”, at the time.

But Durham Crown Court heard that despite being convicted of the offending, following a trial in August, the 68-year-old defendant of The Crescent, High Etherley, near Bishop Auckland, remains in denial.

The court was told the victim felt alone in the world and self-harmed as well as attempting to take her own life twice, in the wake of the abuse.

But she eventually disclosed what had happened to her at Spacey’s hands and it led to the defendant being charged with six counts of sexual assault, one accounting for multiple offences.

Emma Dowling, prosecuting, said after the police became involved, Spacey sent the girl numerous messages.

He went on trial at the court on August 19 and, following a week-long hearing, was found guilty on all six counts by the jury, including some of sexual assault on a girl under 13.

Today’s sentencing hearing was read an impact statement by the victim who said she still struggles to believe what Spacey did to her and what he took from her, having put her, “through hell.”

Labelling her abuser as, "weak and pathetic", she said: “I want to protect other young girls and show them what Alan Spacey is.”

She said she was, “young and naïve” at the time and that Spacey knew how vulnerable she was.

“How can you blame a child for her own sexual assault,” she stated, and she said she fears the effects of Spacey's abuse will live with her for the rest of her life.

But she said his “sick perversions” have made her strong, and, following his conviction, she now feels, “on her way to better days.”

The court heard Spacey has 12 convictions for 38 past offences, but those are relatively old and unrelated to the present matter.

Robert Mochrie, in mitigation, said there was little he could say on his client’s behalf, as, “unhappily he still denies this was the correct verdict.”

But he said the defendant accepts, in the light of that verdict, that the judge must perform her public duty and pass an appropriate sentence.

“He is, of course, 68 and any sentence will take him into old age.

“As there are multiple offences, I ask you take into account totality.”

Mr Mochrie added: “As he will be an elderly gentleman when released you might be able to temper sentence slightly to take account of that.”

Judge Sarah Mallett quoted the victim in describing the defendant having treated her, “like a sex toy,” and having put her, “through hell”.

The judge told Spacey: “You knew how young, naïve and vulnerable she was.

“At the time she was self-harming and tried to commit suicide twice.

“Despite everything she has endured, however, she has matured and is an impressive young woman.”

The judge said the defendant has had, “a strong work ethic”, through his life and she bore in mind his age, but she noted, “there was an absence of guilty pleas in this case.”

Imposing the 15-year sentence, Judge Mallett said Spacey would have to serve at least two-thirds before he can be considered for release by the Parole Board.

Upon completion of the sentence, he will also have to serve an additional year the subject of licence supervision.

Other aspects of the sentence mean he will be barred from ever working with children and will not be allowed unsupervised contact with anyone under 18, by way of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Spacey will also be subject to notification requirements by way of registration as a sex offender, again indefinitely.

A lifetime restraining order prevents him for ever contacting or approaching his victim.

Description

The full extent of a paedophile’s sickening child and animal abuse interest emerged after he was jailed for offences including voyeurism, earlier this year, a court heard.

Cameron Greaves, now 21, received a total prison sentence of 18 months at Durham Crown Court, in May, after he admitted two counts of voyeurism plus possession of indecent imagers of children and extreme pornography.

The lead offences at that hearing were considered to be those of voyeurism, the covert filming of two boys doing private acts against their knowledge by Greaves, with the other offences relating to 16 indecent images of children and an unspecified number of extreme pornographic images.

Just a few months into his term of imprisonment, Greaves appeared again for sentence before the court, this time via video link from HMP Northumberland, where he is serving the jail term imposed in May.

Charlie Thompson, prosecuting, told the latest hearing that Greaves now falls to be sentenced after new charges were brought once the full contents of devices seized from him by police, in April, emerged.

The defendant, from Crook, admitted three new charges of making incident photographs of children and four of possessing extreme pornography when the case went before magistrates, in June.

It was sent to the crown court for sentence.

Mr Thompson said the new charges related to a far greater number of images, about 1,500 featuring indecent child material, 98 classed as extreme pornography and 54 prohibited images of children, in cartoon or CGI format, some stills but many of them videos.

Much of the offending material, particularly the images and videos featuring animals, were said to be of a sadistic nature featuring gross acts of cruelty and torture, while the child abuse images featured very young children, some in discernible distress.

Mr Thompson said Greaves had traded in the images, requesting, “the harder the better” from one like-minded individual with whom he communicated online.

Greaves had sought to buy some of the animal abuse material which originated from a now jailed British zoologist in Australia.

Cole Cockburn, for Greaves, said the images were gathered during the period covering the original conviction, offences dating back to a time when the defendant was aged 19, and of previous good character.

Mr Cockburn said the offending stemmed from the defendant’s addiction to pornography.

He said the harsh conditions his client has endured serving his prison sentence have exemplified the defendant’s, “on-going shame and deep regret.”

Mr Cockburn said: “He desires to leave prison as a man who can put this all behind him.

“He was well-liked before he went to prison and has made it clear when he does leave prison, he will do so with a deep-rooted desire not to return.”

Judge Nathan Adams told Greaves: “This is effectively the second part of a sentencing exercise started by Judge Kidd, in May.

“It appears for the previous two years you have been accumulating an extremely high-level of illegal material, including images featuring the abuse of children as young as one or two, just horrific conduct.”

He said the extreme images feature more than 70 videos of animals being, “tortured, mutilated and killed.”

Judge Adams said the officer overseeing the investigation described it as some of the most disturbing material he has had to view as part of his professional duties.

He said people like the defendant prepared to seek out and pay for material featuring such “horrific conduct” only encourage the making of more images of child abuse and sadism to animals.

Imposing a 28-month total sentence, it adds a further ten months onto the prison term passed on Greaves in May.

He also ordered deprivation of all the images and videos, plus the devices seized by police during their inquiry.

Greaves is already subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and registration as a sex offender, both for ten years, arising from his sentence in May.

But he was told the ten-year notification requirement period will now start afresh.

Detective Constable Liam Padget, of Durham Police’s Online Child Abuse Investigation Team, said the force’s digital investigation unit launched an operation in June 2023 after it identified Greaves as having control of a Google account onto which indecent images of children were uploaded.

Greaves’ devices were seized immediately and upon examination, it was found he was in possession of a large quantity of extreme pornography, plus more than 1,500 images and videos featuring child abuse.

As a result, he was further arrested for these offences and brought into custody.

He was interviewed and later charged with possession of extreme pornographic images, possession of indecent images of a child, making indecent images of a child and voyeurism.

Det Con Padget said: "Following an in-depth investigation we can see Cameron Greaves has very deep-rooted sexual perversions, which included possessing disgusting child abuse images and images involving animals, even going to the lengths of recording others without their knowledge.”

He added: “Hopefully the sentence passed will deter others from sharing in children's misery".

Description

A sex offender who abused a young boy and left him feeling like he had "no hope or future" has died behind bars.

Former soldier Malcolm Burwood subjected his young and "frightened" child victim to horrific sex attacks and left him so "haunted" he tried to take his own life. A court heard the youngster had been threatened to keep quiet about the abuse he suffered at the hands of Burwood, from Houghton-le-Spring.

But half a century later, in March 2019, Burwood was jailed for 12 years after being convicted of four sex offences. He was also made to sign the sex offenders register for life.

During the sentencing, Burwood's victim told Newcastle Crown Court: "I clearly remember being a very frightened child. This has haunted me, it has blighted my life." He added: "I have felt there is no hope or future. It is like a storm inside of me."

The court heard Burwood, who was 79 at the time he was jailed, had a "catalogue" of medical problems, including obstructive airways disease, renal failure and hearing loss. He also had a wife who was seriously ill in hospital.

The judge told him: "Prison is going to be harder for you to endure than a young and fit man but the central argument is, had you gone to the police at the time of this offending, you would have served your prison sentence when you were young and fit."

A Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) report published this month confirmed that Burwood died of prostate cancer on April 7, 2024. At an inquest on May 30, the coroner concluded Burwood died of natural causes.

Description

A County Durham paedophile who plied young boys with alcohol and showed them pornography before assaulting them has been jailed.

Alan Rutter, 78, of Easington, committed the offences over several years in the 1990s, with some of his victims as young as eight years old. During a trial at Newcastle Crown Court, the pensioner was found guilty of 11 charges including child abduction, sexual activity with a child, and indecent assault and buggery - now classed as rape.

He was sentenced to 19 years in prison, and will also be on the Sex Offenders' Register for life.

Description

A County Durham rapist who carried out the "hideous" sexual abuse of a child while drunk has been caged for 12 years.

James Smith left his victim "uncomfortable" in their own skin and battling feelings of "disgust" after raping and sexually abusing them. The 43-year-old carried out the abuse when he was drunk and maintains his innocence, despite being found guilty by a jury.

On Monday, Smith, of Spennymoor, appeared at Durham Crown Court via link from HMP Durham to be sentenced for rape, sexual assault of a child, and sexual activity in the presence of a child. He was convicted after a three-day trial on August 2. Prosecutor, Shaun Dodds told the court that Smith carried out the offences "under the influence of alcohol".

In a statement, Smith's victim, who was a child at the time of the offences, said that they only began to "process" what happened to them when they got older. They said they felt "disgust in the pit of my stomach" and "uncomfortable in my own skin". The victim also made attempts to take their own life, the court heard.

Thomas Sherrington, defending, told the court Smith "still maintains his innocence". He said: "The offences were completely out of character. He has no previous convictions for sexual matters."

Mr Sherrington added: "It appears [the offences] were unplanned. There is little personal mitigation as he continues to deny the offences...he does suffer from depression and anxiety."

Sentencing Smith, Judge Adams said: "You had chronic alcohol problems at the time, which you were in complete denial about."

Judge Adams said that Smith's alcohol abuse was an aggravating factor in the offences as he "knew what you were doing" and that he acted in a "hideous manner". He added: "I accept you may have no memory of the offences given the state you were in."

Smith was jailed for 12 years and made subject of a lifetime restraining order. He will also be on the sex offender register for life, and a 20 year sexual harm prevention order was also imposed.

Description

A paedophile "traded" sickening child abuse images to other perverts online and deleted a messenger app minutes before his arrest.

Nissan worker Scott Francis shared category A, B and C videos and pictures to other paedophiles online and was caught after a National Crime Agency investigation. The 47-year-old had been distributing material which depicted children as young as four-years-old being abused.

On Thursday, Francis, of Bowes Avenue, Easington Lane, Houghton-le-Spring, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court to be sentenced for three counts of distributing indecent images of children. He had pleaded guilty to the offences.

The court heard that on November 16 2021, Northumbria Police received a referral from the National Crime Agency which suggested indecent images of children had been uploaded to the internet via the Kik messenger app. The account which had uploaded the images was linked to Francis.

Antonia Adie, prosecuting, said: "Police went to the defendant's home in January 2022 and his iPhone was seized and he was arrested. He was interviewed and made admissions. He said he used the account to look at pornography and that sometimes indecent images were put into chats he was in.

"He said he'd received images and traded them in order to access pornography he was interested in." Ms Adie said that the Kik app he had been using had been uninstalled minutes before he was arrested and that it was an attempt to "conceal his offending".

In total, Francis shared four category A images, two category B images and two category C images. Videos were also included, the court heard.

Helen Towers, defending, said Francis has a son and that he was "deeply ashamed" of his actions. She said: "He has no previous convictions and worked for 12 years at Nissan." She added he had shown "remorse" and that prison would have a "significant impact on those reliant on him".

Judge Prince jailed Francis for two years. He will also be on the sex offender register for 10 years and a 10 year sexual harm prevention order was also imposed.

Description

A man arrested on suspicion of engaging in sexualised online chat with an underage girl committed numerous similar offences when released under investigation.

In each case, however, defendant John Paul Williamson was unaware the “girl” with whom he believed he was exchanging messages, was, in reality, a police decoy.

Durham Crown Court heard that he swapped messages with what he thought to be a 12-year-old girl, on a profile going under the name ‘Holly’, on a chat app in late March, 2022.

Paul Newcombe, prosecuting, said Williamson introduced himself as a 26-year-old man, his age at the time, and from the outset was told Holly was only 12.

Mr Newcombe said following a couple of introductory remarks in which he asked her to send him images of herself, the defendant soon moved the conversation on to sexual matters.

He sent sexualised pictures of himself and asked her if she liked older men.

Mr Newcombe said the defendant told her not to be shy and sent her explicit photos of himself asking if she liked them and would she like to see more.

Although Holly gave only innocent answers, Williamson persisted and sent her five further requests for pictures.

He was arrested and interviewed in April 2022, but gave no comment and was released, only to commit further similar offences.

Mr Newcombe said the defendant became involved in similar chat room exchanges involving three other “girls”, supposedly all aged 13, in which he suggested they should engage in sexual activity, repeatedly asking them to send him photos.

When he was re-arrested, in January 2023, he denied using the chat room app and blamed the offences on a named cousin, who, it emerged did not exist, so it was all an invention as a cover story for himself.

Mr Newcombe said police also discovered indecent images of children on devices in Williamson’s possession, including 71 in the most serious category, both stills and moving.

These featured children as young as five being abused by adults, while there were also two images classed as extreme pornography, showing scenes of bestiality.

Williamson, now 28, of Pine Avenue, Durham, admitted four counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, three of possessing indecent images of a child and two of possession of extreme pornography.

He also asked for 20 further charges of attempted sexual communication with a child to be taken into consideration.

Mr Newcombe said in each of those cases they were police officers posing as underage girls on chat apps.

He said the aggravating features of the case was the attempt to solicit images of the children he believed he was communicating with, his “persistence”, particularly post his first arrest.

“So, despite police having spoken to him about similar behaviour, he just carried on doing exactly the same.”

Robin Patton, for Williamson, said whatever sentence the defendant serves, his life, post-release, will no longer be the same due to the scrutiny he will be placed under, with his online behaviour monitored by the sex offenders’ management unit and the Probation Service.

“He’s now 28, of previous good character and with a job until he was remanded into custody, where he has spent the last six months.

“During all of this offending he never, actually, met a child.

“He’s a sad and inadequate figure according to the Probation Service.

“When released he will still be the same due to a deep-seated sense of inadequacy.

“But he will be monitored upon his release.”

Judge Geoffrey Marson told the defendant he committed, “a catalogue of persistent and serious offending", even though no real child was harmed by him.

“But, at the time, you believed these girls existed and were aged 12 or 13.

“It’s perfectly clear you have a sexual interest in children, which, at the moment, you are unable to control.

“You also have a propensity to possess extreme pornographic images and others of children.”

The judge said the attempts to sexually communicate with what he believed to be children were, “among the worst I have ever come across.”

He added: “To make matters worse, you were arrested in April 2022 and then offended again from November 2022, committing a further catalogue of similar offending.”

Imposing a total three-year prison sentence, Judge Marson told Williamson he will spend up to half in custody before being released on licence.

The judge also made the defendant subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and registration as a sex offender, both, “without limit of time.”

He also made a forfeiture and destruction order for the devices seized from the defendant during the investigation.

Description

A sex offender who groomed a young boy and sent him photos and videos of naked men has been jailed.

Martyn Fryatt groomed the child over the course of a year, sending him sexually explicit messages and images and videos of naked men and young boys. The 71-year-old repeatedly told the boy to delete the photos so that his parents wouldn’t find them.

Fryatt, a former Christian missionary, was arrested after the boy’s mum discovered the images and messages on her son’s phone and called the police. The phone was analysed by specialist officers who uncovered numerous sexually inappropriate WhatsApp messages that had been sent by Fryatt, along with images and videos of men and young boys exposing themselves.

Fryatt, of Burnopfield, was charged with several offences, including making indecent images of a child, possessing a prohibited image of a child, and engaging in sexual communication with a child. He admitted the charges and appeared at Durham Crown Court on August 20 where he was jailed for a year and two months.

He was also made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and placed on the sex offender register, both for ten years.

Description

A man who raped a woman while she was having a seizure has been jailed for nine years.

Steven Catlow had offered to walk the woman home from a gathering at a house in Peterlee on Christmas Day in 2019.

On the way home, the woman suffered a seizure and fell on the ground behind a row of shops in Peterlee.

As she came round, she realised 32-year-old Catlow was raping her as she lay face down in a muddy patch of grass.

The woman called police later that evening and an investigation was launched by Durham Constabulary.

The case took several years to come to court as Catlow had initially lied about what happened. But when his DNA was found in the woman’s underwear, he changed his story to say that consensual sex had taken place.

However, a jury sitting at Durham Crown Court found Catlow guilty of rape and he was jailed for nine years on Monday (August 12).

In a victim impact statement, the woman said: “I have consistently had to keep re-living what happened - I tried so hard to forget about it all, but it was constant, having to experience flashbacks every time I spoke about it.

“Because of his actions, I now don’t go out with friends, I don’t feel comfortable being out and socialising. I am constantly looking over my shoulder thinking the worst is going to happen.

“My mental health has been up and down constantly since that day. I can never look at Christmas Day the same again – he has ruined this day for me for the rest of my life.

“I even look at myself differently – truthfully, I look at myself and just see myself as someone to be used. I lost all respect for myself. Because of what he did to me that Christmas Day, nearly five years ago, I will never be the same again.”

Detective Sergeant Erica Kilburn, who led the investigation, said: “Catlow’s actions on that day were abhorrent – he preyed on a woman who was physically not in a position to help herself.

“He is a dangerous predator who abused the woman’s trust and took advantage of her in the most horrific way.

“I’d like to commend the woman who has shown incredible resilience and strength of character throughout this protracted investigation and court case. She was not thrown by Catlow’s lack of remorse, and I hope this result goes some way to alleviate the pain she has suffered over these past few years.

“I am pleased that Catlow is now behind bars and unable to harm anyone else. This result sends a strong message that violence against women and girls will not be tolerated, and any reports will be rigorously pursued.”

Description

A taxi driver took advantage of a female passenger's drunken condition, going on a “detour” to rape her in a secluded cemetery car park before dropping her at home.

The heavily intoxicated woman was put in the taxi by a friend, following a night out to celebrate a birthday, with the driver David Greaves given the instruction to take her straight home.

Durham Crown Court heard that a trip which should have taken between five and ten minutes lasted almost an hour before the passenger, oblivious to what had taken place on the journey, was dropped at home and helped to bed by a family member.

On waking the following morning, she had little recollection of the events of the previous night, but, due to internal soreness, she began to have her suspicions.

Paul Cleasby, prosecuting, said she was terrified she had been taken advantage of by the taxi driver on the journey home.

Greaves was contacted and accepted having had sexual intercourse with the woman.

Horrified at the thought, the woman contacted the police and, when arrested and interviewed, Greaves again confirmed having had sex with her on the journey to her home.

Mr Cleasby said he gave police, “an account of a long-running sexual encounter, going into graphic details, minimising her level of drunkenness”.

He said Greaves' version of events suggested the woman was, an “enthusiastic” participant in the sexual activity.

The now 42-year-old defendant, of Wansbeck Close, Spennymoor, was charged with rape and denied the allegation, maintaining his account that it was a consensual encounter.

Following a five-day trial at the court, in late May, he was convicted on the jury verdict.

He was remanded in custody pending preparation of a background probation report prior to sentence being passed, at the court on Thursday (July 11).

Mr Cleasby told the sentencing hearing the defendant had taken advantage of the victim’s, “extremely vulnerable state”.

He said: “It was a protracted incident with a degree of planning, driving her to a car park of a secluded cemetery to carry out the attack.”

Mr Cleasby said it was an “abuse of trust”, with a significant degree of planning, awaiting the opportunity to carry out a sexual attack.

He then read the victim’s impact statement in which she said the incident had, “changed my life forever”.

She said she had gone through periods of self-loathing and disgust, low confidence and esteem, as well as suffering panic attacks and depression and being hyper-vigilant, “seeing danger everywhere,” with major trust issues.

The court heard she has also suffered from severe migraines and turned to alcohol more than usual to try to cope.

But she has also struggled to sleep and when she does, she is prone to having nightmares.

Stuart Duke, in mitigation, told the court the position of the defendant remains the same, maintaining his innocence.

“But he accepts he was convicted by the jury and will receive a significant term of imprisonment.

“He regards his life as effectively over and is very pessimistic about his future.

“He has no previous convictions and has never been to prison before.

“He’s found his time as a vulnerable prisoner extremely distressing and difficult.

“It will be many years before he will be at liberty.”

Mr Duke said despite his lack of past convictions, the defendant was classed as, “a dangerous offender” by the author of the Probation Service report.

Judge Jo Kidd told Greaves: “I take the view that you continue to hold a thoroughly delusional and incorrect view of the predatory rape you carried out on the victim in this case.”

She said he would have been aware of the victim’s vulnerabilities at the time of the pick-up.

“They couldn’t have been more obvious to you.

“You drove her to a secluded area some distance from her home.

“No one will ever know what you did to her when she was in that secluded, dark area, in that taxi with you.

“It’s an understandable source of trauma to your victim.”

The judge said Greaves, “took no account, whatsoever, of her bodily autonomy and her right to choose with who and when and where she would engage in sexual activity.

“Your delusional attitude continues to be disturbing.

“The way you described that sexual activity seemed to contain elements of relish, enjoying the description.

“Understandably, the probation report author’s view is that you pose a danger despite having no previous convictions.

“There was an element of abduction and this was a sustained incident.

“The victim was particularly vulnerable and has endured severe psychological harm.”

Judge Kidd, therefore, imposed an extended sentence of 15 years, with a 12-year custodial element, to be followed by a three-year licence period.

She told Greaves he must serve at least two-thirds of the custodial period, eight years, before being eligible for consideration for release by the Parole Board.

Judge Kidd also made the defendant subject to an unlimited restraining order, prohibiting him from ever contacting or approaching his victim.

He will also be subject to notification as a sex offender for an unlimited period and entered on the barring list from ever working with children or vulnerable adults.

Judge Kidd said she did not feel it necessary to impose a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, the terms of which would have sought to ban him from driving taxis in future, as, by way of his conviction, he will not be permitted to hold a licence for such work in future.

Having told the defendant to return to his wing to begin serving his sentence, Judge Kidd thanked the victim and her family for the “dignity and courage” they have shown during the court proceedings.

Description

A child rapist has been jailed years after abusing a youngster.

Stewart Tuck, 24, carried out attacks on his victim when he was a child at secondary school himself. Tuck's victim reported him to the police years later, after finding out the abuser had committed another sex crime. Teesside Crown Court heard that Tuck was caught with an indecent image of a toddler by a person who had access to his phone, in 2022.

He was reported to the police and as Tuck faced court, his previous victim heard what was happening and came forward.

Tuck, of Wheatley Road in Stockton, pleaded guilty to nine historic sexual offences.

• Three counts of sexual assault of a child under 13
• Three counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child
• Two counts of rape of a child under 13
• Causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity

Tuck also admitted to his more recent offence of taking indecent photos of a child.

Judge Jonathan Carroll told him: "The discovery of your adult offending was the trigger for your first victim to come forward. You remain a significant risk of casing serious harm, by committing further offences."

The judge handed Tuck an extended sentence, totalling seven-years-nine-months. He was jailed for four-years-and-nine-months; and he will be under an extended licence for three-years, after he is released from prison. He must serve two-thirds of the prison term, before he is eligible for release. He was made the subject of a restraining order. As a registered sex offender, he must register his address with the police, for the rest of his life.

Description

A rapist who left his victim living in fear has been jailed for nine years.

Anthony Hamilton attacked the woman at her home in 2021, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Hamilton, 39, of Scholars View in Hetton-le-Hole, County Durham, had denied offences including rape, but was convicted by jurors.

At his sentencing hearing, he maintained the sexual contact was consensual, but Recorder Thomas Moran said Hamilton's victim had "submitted" to him as she was "terrified" of him.

The judge said Hamilton, who represented himself at the sentencing while appearing via video link from HMP Hull, focused on his sense of injustice.

He said Hamilton "painted a very vivid picture of an emotionally unstable" and "self-pitying" man who claimed he had "lost everything".

Mr Recorder Moran said Hamilton's offending had had a profound affect on his victim.

Hamilton must also sign the sex offender's register for life.

Description

A police worker sent an explicit photo of himself to a 'teenage girl' he met online.

Matthew Bowers made explicit sexual comments and encouraged the girl to perform a sex act, during a conversation on Snapchat. Victoria Lamballe, prosecuting, told Teesside Crown Court that the girl was actually a decoy.

Bowers, who works for North Yorkshire Police, gave sexual instructions to 'Jazz' who let him know she was 13. The 30-year-old gave himself a false name during the chat, and pretended to be younger than he is, the Middlesbrough court heard. The two met on Rambo Chat, but quickly moved the conversation to Snapchat.

Bowers, of Amberley Grove in Darlington, pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in sexual communication with a child. Chris Baker, mitigating, told the court that his client had been in the navy for eight years, before he started working in IT for the force. Mr Baker added that Bowers' family are standing by him.

Judge Howard Crowson told Bowers: "You thought you were talking to a 13 year-old girl, who had been expressing ignorance about sexual matters. The person you were speaking to was an adult - he was a decoy."

The judge jailed Bowers for 28-months. He was made the subject of a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, which prohibits him from having unsupervised contact with any child under the age of 16.

The order also imposes restrictions on Bowers' online use - he is banned from using virtual private networks; private browsing and cleaning software. He must declare use of remote storage or clouds to the police within three days. Bowers was also made subject to sex offender notification requirements, for the next 10 years.