Latest Offenders Gateshead

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A sexual predator who raped two women after bringing them home to his flat has been locked up for more than 11 years.

James Wilkinson, now 27, met both the women through social media and had arranged to meet up with them in person during May 2021.

On May 9 that year, Wilkinson brought his first victim back to his flat in the Wideopen area, after the pair had met up for the first time and visited a shop together.

The woman – who was 20 at the time and had not expected to go into his home – felt concerned, sharing her location and messaging family members while she was out.

Wilkinson then encouraged the woman to go into his bedroom to watch TV, before proceeding to rape her.

And on May 24, a similar incident occurred whereby Wilkinson had arranged to meet the second woman for a date, after exchanging messages online.

When the then 18-year-old arrived at his flat, Wilkinson insisted she watched TV with him before they went out for food as they had discussed. He then proceeded to rape her twice.

Both terrified victims left his address shortly after each of the incidents occurred and later reported what had happened to police.

Wilkinson, of Dunston Road in Gateshead, was arrested and subsequently charged with three counts of rape.

He continued to deny his guilt, claiming the sex on both occasions was consensual, and boasted that he would often meet girls through his social media accounts.

The case initially went to trial at Newcastle Crown Court, however Wilkinson was later found guilty on three offences of rape.

He appeared before Durham Crown Court on Monday, June 3, where a judge sentenced him to 11 years and six months in prison.

He was also handed a restraining order to forbid contact with both women, and ordered to sign the Sex Offender Register indefinitely.

Description

A sex offender who called himself "Brian Robocop" has been jailed for breaching restrictions imposed on his use of electronic devices.

Brian Heron was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order and sex offender registration in 2011 after being convicted of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child. Since then he has breached the orders on a number of occasions.

Now the 67-year-old, of Claremont South Avenue, Gateshead, has been jailed at Newcastle Crown Court after he did it again by installing internet history-wiping software, having unregistered devices and bank cards and failing to log the fact he was using the pseudonym "Brian Robocop" online.

In February last year police went to his home and found he had installed a cleaner on his phone which is capable of deleting internet history, which he is forbidden from doing. Officers deleted the software but then subsequently found he had reinstalled it.

When police examined the device then found a message from him saying "getting laptop up and running today". He had not registered any laptop with the police, as he was required to do.

Heron also provided police with a mobile phone from under a mattress. And while in custody he was found to have two bank cards which he had not told police about, as he was supposed to.

When the phone was examined, it showed he was going by the name "Brian Robocop" and he had not logged that pseudonym with officers. The cleaner software was also on that phone.

In August last year, police went to his home to carry out checks and asked to see his phone. He handed over a Nokia device which he said he'd registered with police but checks showed he had not done so.

Heron said he forgot to register the bank cards but said he thought the cleaner software didn't delete his internet history and "simply cleaned the device".

He has 17 previous convictions, including indecent assault on a male youth in 1994, for which he got a probation order and engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child aged under 13 in 2011, for which he got a community order. He was given a sexual harm prevention order for that and ordered to sign the sex offenders register.

For the latest offences, he pleaded guilty to breaching the sexual harm prevention order for the fifth and sixth time and breaching the sex offender notification requirements for the second and third time. He was jailed for 27 months by Judge Amanda Rippon.

The court heard he is in poor health with diabetes and mobility problems and he has spent more than six months in custody on remand, the first time he has been to prison, which he has found "horrific" and does not want to have to go back. His barrister said he "apologises profusely and accepts responsibility for his actions".

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A former church musical director has been jailed for having sex with an underage girl.

Daniel Smith was a respected member of a church in South Tyneside when he carried out serious historical sexual offences against a child. The 48-year-old carried out "elements of grooming" behaviour and went on to have sex with an underage girl on two occasions.

Smith, who was married at the time of the offences, plied his victim with alcohol and the offences left her battling PTSD, anxiety and depression, the court heard.

On Friday, Smith, of Sundridge Drive, Gateshead, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court via link from HMP Durham to be sentenced for three counts of sexual activity with a child. He had pleaded guilty to the offences.

The court was told Smith carried out the historic sexual offences when he living in the South Tyneside area, while working as a musical director at a church.

Susannah Proctor, prosecuting, said at one point Smith drove the girl to an industrial estate and kissed her, before going on to send her "graphic messages". She said: "He invited her to stay at his home when his wife was at work where he supplied her with alcohol and more kissing.

"Their relationship developed and they had sexual intercourse on two occasions, the first time in his living room. After she went home he text her saying 'I'm glad we did that'."

Smith went on to have sex with the girl a second time and had further sexual activity with her on a third occasion. Smith's offences came to light after the girl disclosed what had happened to a counsellor and the matter was reported to police.

The court heard that around the same time as the offences, Smith was also cautioned for causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. That caution related to another child, the court was told.

In a statement, the victim said Smith's actions left her battling PTSD and had also impacted a relationship she had later in life. She also suffers from ongoing depression and anxiety.

Sam Faulks, defending, said: "Outside of the indictment period, the defendant had not offended before and he's not offended since. There have been years between these offences happening and where we are today.

"He is truly appalled and had no idea just how damaged the complainant is. He is deeply ashamed about what happened and can only hope that through his guilty pleas that some form of healing can start to take place. He hopes that will take place."

Sentencing Smith, Recorder David Gordon said he was a church musical director at the time of the offences and caused the victim "severe psychological harm". Smith was jailed for five years and three months and will be on the sex offender's register indefinitely. An indefinite restraining order was also imposed.

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A pensioner who left a girl suicidal after sexually assaulting her has been jailed for nine years.

Colin Routledge groomed and abused the youngster in offences which had a "devastating" impact on her life, a court heard. The 77-year-old was convicted of four offences of sexual assault after a trial.

Locking him up at Newcastle Crown Court, Judge Amanda Rippon told him: "You told her not to tell anyone what you were doing and you said you would get into trouble if she did. She didn't understand why you would get in trouble because she didn't understand what was happening to her.

"She kept it secret until she could cope no more, telling her parents. She has provided a victim impact statement outlining the devastating impact."

The judge added: "She is one of the most brave people I have seen in some time. I very much hope she is able to find some comfort and solace and some understanding of what happened to her, none of which was her fault. I hope she can move forward with the love and support of her family."

As well as the prison sentence, Routlege must sign the sex offenders register for life and will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order. and a restraining order.

The court heard Routlege, of Laburnum Gardens, Gateshead, has no previous convictions and has medical conditions that will make his time in prison more difficult.

Description

A man sexually assaulted a sleeping woman who had taken pity on him and allowed him to stay at her home.

Tony Potter was kindly invited to stay at the woman's home after she believed him to be struggling with his mental health. But after a night of drinking, the woman woke up from sleeping after feeling pain and realised she was being sexually assaulted.

After Potter refused to stop the attack, the woman was forced to strike him in the face with a fork. She then accused him of raping her, but Potter laughed it off and "made light of things".

Potter, 41, denied the offence but was later found guilty of two counts of assault by penetration following a trial. On Monday, he appeared at Newcastle Crown Court via link from HMP Durham to be sentenced.

The court heard that Potter, of Lobley Hill Road, Gateshead, put something on social media which made the woman believe he was struggling with his mental health and was "in a bad place". The woman then reached out and offered to meet up.

Liam O'Brien, prosecuting, said: "They spent several hours socialising together at a house. On one evening both parties consumed alcohol and Valium and then went to sleep."

In the morning, the woman was suddenly woken by a "painful sensation" and realised Potter was sexually assaulting her. Mr O'Brien continued: "She sought to get him off but he wouldn't let go. In desperation, she noticed a Pot Noodle cup with a fork nearby. She took hold of it and struck the defendant in the face. She then accused the defendant of raping her.

"He treated matters as if they were a joke and told her she was a heavy sleeper and he had been biting her to try and wake her up but it hadn't worked. He sought to make light of things."

Potter later left the woman's home and she reported the incident to police. In a statement, she said the sex assault left her suffering from flashbacks and struggled to sleep.

The court was told Potter had 29 previous convictions for 61 offences, including an attempted robbery in 2018 where he tried to take a person's car while fleeing from police after attacking a man in Newcastle Central Library. He had no previous convictions for sex offences.

Peter Schofield, defending, said that following the sex offence, Potter moved away from the North East and attended a 12-step programme in order to deal with his alcohol and drug misuse issues. He said: "He has gained qualifications as a forklift truck driver and passed his full driving test.

"He has obtained work in the Blackburn area for a delivery firm in an attempt to put the past behind him." Mr Schofield added that Potter had not committed any offences since 2020.

Sentencing Potter, Judge Penny Moreland jailed him for seven years and imposed a 10 year restraining order. He will also be on the sex offender's register for life.

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A North East man has been handed a life sentence after being found guilty of rape and sexual assault against three children.

Ian Tague, 41, from Gateshead, has been jailed for a minimum of 20 years after being sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on Friday (May 12).

Tague had been charged with 25 counts of rape and sexual assault against three children.

He had been found guilty by a jury last May at the same court and remanded in custody.

He must serve a minimum of 20 years behind bars before being considered for parole, and was made to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for life and prevented from ever contacting his victims.

Sergeant Nicola Wade of Northumbria Police’s Child and Adult Protection Unit said: “Tague is a monster – there’s no other word for him. He is a danger to children and I am so thankful to the exceptionally brave victim  who spoke out against him.

“Thanks to their bravery, we were able to identify other victims, who then bravely spoke out themselves, and build a strong case against vile Tague.

“Tague has undoubtedly robbed them of their innocence but I hope they grow up knowing that what happened to them was never their fault, they did not deserve it and that they have shown incredible resilience.

"Thanks to them, Tague has been exposed for the predator he is, removed from society and will forever more be known as a vile paedophile.

“I truly hope this sentence gives the survivors and their families a sense of justice and comfort and they can begin to look to the future.

Description

A rapist who attacked two lone women on the same night has been sent back to prison - six months after being released.

Bobby Barclay was just 17 years old when he committed two violent sex offences within two hours of each other on the streets of Newcastle. During the first offence, he abused a 52-year-old unconscious woman in a back alley in Gosforth.

The teenager, formally of Gateshead, then followed a 25-year-old woman out of Newcastle city centre and threatened to stab her before brutally raping her in Exhibition Park.

Barclay committed the offences in June 2015 after drinking and taking legal highs. He admitted rape, sexual assault and theft and was sent to a young offender institution for seven years and three months, with an extended licence until 2028.

Teesside Crown Court heard on Monday morning how he was released on licence in October last year, placed on probation in the Cleveland area and made subject to a sexual harm prevention order and notification requirements.

Barclay, now 25, had registered a mobile phone with police and told them that he used the alias 'GeordieBobby' for his Facebook and Instagram accounts.

However, during a visit January this year, an officer seized a new mobile phone which he had been using. They discovered he had been using TikTok under the name 'Bobbybarc' and Snapchat under the name 'Bobby_B22815'.

Jenny Hague, prosecuting, told the court in Middlesbrough: "Neither of these had been registered with the police, which he was required to do.

"When the officer attended and went to speak to him in respect of that he was in the process of donning a rucksack and intending to abscond because he thought he was about to be recalled by probation."

Barclay, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching the terms of a notification requirement.

Gary Wood, defending, told the court how he had pleaded guilty during the first hearing at magistrates' court. He said the crimes he committed were not "sophisticated" and that the names were not particularly "discreet".

Mr Wood added: "There's nothing more sinister that's come about as a result of the investigation."

Recorder Aisha Wadoodi told Barclay, who appeared in court via a video link to HMP Durham, that he had received a "very considerable sentence" in 2015 for sexual offences.

She said: "You were released on licence in October 22. There were conditions and terms imposed. You clearly understood them because you registered your phone."

She sentenced Barclay, previously of Edgeware Road, Deckham, to 12 months behind bars.

Chronicle Live previously reported in 2015 how Barclay's first victim, a professional 52-year-old lady, had been out socialising and was walking home around 12.15am when he struck in an alleyway in Gosforth.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how she had no memory of the attack and was found unconscious on the ground by two women passing by. Prosecutors said they couldn't prove whether Barclay took her to the ground and knocked her out or abused her after finding her unconscious.

Barclay carried out the even more serious attack on the 25-year-old as she left the city centre after a night out at around 2am. A taxi driver spotted him following the woman as she headed past the Haymarket and up towards the Central Motorway and Barclay hid in bushes as the cabbie tried to raise the alarm.

But as the woman got inside the entrance of Exhibition Park, just off Claremont Road, she was attacked. The woman tried giving Barclay money in the hope he would leave her alone but he wouldn’t stop.

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A man has been jailed after he raped a woman while on a first date.

Lee Frost will spend nearly a decade locked up after he forced himself on a woman who had agreed to go on a date with him.

Frost, 38, of Lobley Hill, Gateshead, left the woman with extensive bruising and so traumatised after the ordeal she moved house and now sleeps with a lock on her bedroom door.

Frost was arrested on suspicion of rape in Spring 2021, but denied his guilt, claiming the pair had consensual sex.

He was charged with two counts of rape but continued to deny any wrongdoing when he appeared at Newcastle Crown Court in January this year to stand trial.

A jury, however, saw through his lies, and he was found guilty of both counts.

On Monday (February 27), he was jailed for nine years, with an extended licence period of five years.

He was also made to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

A statement was also read out on behalf of the victim which condemned her attacker, saying he had devastated her life and left her feeling afraid in any place she tried to call home.

Northumbria Police praised the victim for finding the strength to speak to officers and for continuing to assist with the investigation, trial, and all court proceedings.

A spokesperson said: "As a force, we want to praise the victim for finding the strength to speak to officers and for continuing to assist with the investigation, trial and all court proceedings.

"Her bravery has seen her attacker jailed and we also hope it serves as a stark warning to those with an unlawfully blurred view on consent that no always means no, and no can be conveyed by more than just speech.

"If a person tells you no, attempts to push you away, freezes or very clearly becomes distressed, it is clear that they have not given you consent to touch them.

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Peter Forbes, of Gateshead, admitted downloading indecent images from the dark web.

A pervert whose sickening collection of indecent images included a newborn baby being abused has been spared prison.

Police went to the home of Peter Forbes in January last year and seized his computer devices. They found 34 of the most serious, category A images, 21 category B images and 74 category C. There were also 24 prohibited images and four extreme pornography images.

Omar Ahmad, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court the children featured were aged between a newborn baby and 16 years old. One showed a one-week-old baby being abused and there was "discernable pain and distress" from the children.

There was also evidence Forbes had also engaged in chats with others about "younger" children and had made word searches for terms associated with paedophilic images.

Forbes, 28, of Church Road, Gateshead, pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images, possessing prohibited images of children and possessing extreme pornography. He was sentenced to 12 months suspended for 18 months with 120 hours unpaid work.

Brian Hegarty, defending, said: "The general public will, of course, be horrified and appalled, quite rightly, over images of this type. He had an addiction to pornography from the age of ten.

"He was on the dark web and came to download these images. He referred himself for counselling after his arrest."

Description

A convicted sex offender is back behind bars after breaching an order designed to curb his deviancy by chatting to another pervert and failing to tell police he had a phone and memory sticks.

Michael Minchell, whose previous convictions include sexual assault and child abduction, was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order in July 2020 for child sex offences. But in June this year a visit by a risk management officer revealed he was not abiding by it.

He had a mobile phone which he had failed to register with police for three months and also had USB memory sticks which he had not told officers about, as he was meant to do. And he had been in regular contact with another sex offender who he met in prison, which was also forbidden in the order. He had also contacted another pervert.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Minchell, 57, has nine previous convictions. In December 2020 he got a suspended sentence for two counts of gross indecency with a child under 13 and indecent assault of a boy. He was also convicted of three counts of sexual assault and child abduction in 2007 and indecent assault in 1998.

ChronicleLive reported in December 2020 how our story about the foot fetish pervert prompted a new victim to come forward to report what he'd done decades earlier.

Jane Foley, defending, said: "He would say he is vulnerable. He has been frequently bullied and easily led.

"He seeks the approval of others. When he has formed friendships in prison he has found it very difficult to steer clear of them.

"He has lost his job as a result of his offending. He is an isolated individual and has anxiety and depression."

Minchell, 57, of Saint Cuthbert’s Court, Gateshead, pleaded guilty to four counts of breaching a sexual harm prevention order and being in breach of a suspended sentence. Judge Julie Clemitson jailed him for a total of 29 months and told him the sexual harm prevention order and sex offender registration will continue for life.

The judge said: "You have demonstrated a pattern of non compliance with measures implemented to manage the risk you pose.

"You are isolated and have lost your job. Those are consequences of the path you have chosen to lead through your life. You put your own needs ahead of the measures put in place to protect other people."

Description

Adam Ward, of Gateshead, admitted a series of offences including sexual assault, voyeurism and making and taking indecent images.

A pervert who sexually assaulted a young girl and secretly recorded children and adults in a toilet and changing room has been branded a dangerous 'monster' and jailed.

Adam Ward's vile activities were revealed when police seized his computer equipment. They found thousands of indecent images of children, including some he had taken himself and some showing he had sexually assaulted a very young girl.

Another series of images showed a different young girl using a toilet. He had also recorded a woman at the Sage music centre, where he worked, by hiding a camera in the ceiling in the toilet and filmed another woman from under a cubicle in a changing room. Recordings were also found of children in a changing room.

A pervert who sexually assaulted a young girl and secretly recorded children and adults in a toilet and changing room has been branded a dangerous 'monster' and jailed.

Adam Ward's vile activities were revealed when police seized his computer equipment. They found thousands of indecent images of children, including some he had taken himself and some showing he had sexually assaulted a very young girl.

Another series of images showed a different young girl using a toilet. He had also recorded a woman at the Sage music centre, where he worked, by hiding a camera in the ceiling in the toilet and filmed another woman from under a cubicle in a changing room. Recordings were also found of children in a changing room.

Now Ward has been branded as a high risk sex offender by a judge at Newcastle Crown Court as he was jailed for a series of offences.

The parents of the young girl he sexually assaulted and took indecent images of provided victim impact statements about the horrific discovery of what had happened. Her mum said: "I can't begin to explain the devastation and damage he has brought to our family.

"The emotions we go through include anger, sadness, guilt and heartbreak. I've not stopped crying since I found out about this.

"I feel physically sick wondering how he was able to do this and did he hurt her and scare her. I was unable to protect her, not knowing she was at risk of harm. He has shattered our lives."

The girl's dad added said he would have to live with the guilt of what happened to his "beautiful little girl" and recalled the "devastating news of what that monster had been up to".

Ward had also downloaded more than 22,000 indecent images of children from the internet, aged between six months and 15 years. There were also 33 search terms associated with people looking for such illegal material.

Ward, 28, of Milton Square, Gateshead, pleaded guilty to sexual assault, six counts of making indecent images of children, two of taking indecent images of a child, possessing extreme pornography and three counts of voyeurism. He was jailed for four years and four months with an extended licence of a further five years and eight months, by Judge Julie Clemitson. He must also sign the sex offenders register and be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for life.

Jane Foley, defending, said: "He has expressed remorse, albeit there's evidence of a lack of victim empathy. He is intelligent and had a good job working in finance."

Miss Foley added that Ward has autism and other mental disorders, including personality difficulties, anxiety and depression.

Detective Constable Elizabeth Biggins, one of the officers leading the investigation, said: “Ward’s actions are despicable, but we have been able to strike and secure the evidence needed to secure a conviction. I would like to thank the families involved for their assistance, resilience and patience throughout the investigation.

“I hope this sends a firm message to other potential offenders that our robust stance on this deplorable type of crime remains strong, and that the next person at your door could very well be us.

“I would always encourage anyone with information about this type of offending, or anyone who thinks they have been a victim, to come forward and talk to us. “You will be heard and supported, and we will work hard to ensure any offenders have their day in court.”

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A pervert who tried to meet two schoolgirls for sexual activity on the same day has been jailed after thanking vigilantes for catching him.

Adrian Cartwright, who has previous for preying on young girls, made contact with what he thought were two 15-year-olds online and engaged in sexual chat and arranged to meet them. In fact he had been talking to decoy profiles set up by paedophile hunters Guardians of the North.

Using the moniker "Top dad", Cartwright communicated with both profiles online in October 2019. Within five messages to the first "girl" he had sent a picture of his penis and requested images of her "wearing less clothing". He also suggested she perform a sex act on him, asked about school uniform and underwear and talked about her sexual body parts.

Newcastle Crown Court heard he arranged to meet her at 4.30pm on October 11 at a car park in Birtley and requested that she didn't wear underwear.

He engaged in a similar chat with the second profile, saying he wanted regular meet ups, asking about her sexual experience and sending her pictures and asking for images of her. He arranged to meet her on October 11 at 11pm at an Asda and suggested they engage in sexual activity at an industrial estate.

Prosecutor Paul Cleasby said: "The prosecution say it's obvious he intended to meet two children on the same evening for the purpose of sexual activity. It's clear he intended to meet the children as he attended the first meeting when both decoys were present.

"The decoys, with other members of Guardians of the North, tried to block his vehicle in the car park but he mounted a grass verge and drove off at speed. He was briefly followed by Guardians of the North but due to his driving they abandoned any pursuit after seeing him drive through a red light and drive at speed on the wrong side of the road in a 20mph residential zone."

Police were contacted and he was arrested at his home a short time later. He appeared out of breath and claimed he didn't know why officers were there.

Cartwright, 52, of Ollerton Gardens, Felling, Gateshead, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and two counts of attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming. Judge Stephen Earl jailed him for 28 months and his lifelong sex offender registration and indefinite sexual harm prevention order continue to be in force.

The court heard he was convicted of eight offences of sexual activity in 2007 in relation to two 14-year-olds. He was given a suspended sentence for that.

The court heard Cartwright, who is in a relationship, said he committed the latest offences while bored at work. Representing himself, he said: "I would like to express my remorse. I have let myself and my family down.

"I would like to thank the Guardians for catching me doing this because it could have been someone else less defensive than themselves. I need help and don't believe a jail sentence would provide that help.

"A lot has changed in three years. I've changed my job and I'm a health and safety representative and have done first aid. I try to help people if I can.

"My parents' health has decreased and I spend a lot of time helping them. I really feel the need to be there for them."

Description

A pervert caught with indecent images of children blamed his addiction to pornography for his vile stash.

Nathan Stephen's sickening collection featured infants and children aged up to 16 years and he had distributed one of them to someone who later told him she was a child herself, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

When confronted by police on October 14 2020, he asked: "Is this about the girl I was speaking to because I didn't realise she was 15 until later".

Various devices were seized and he was found to be in possession of 43 of the most serious, category A, images, 52 category B and 73 category C. He also had 2,876 prohibited images and seven extreme pornography images.

There had also been more than 14,000 keyword search terms used which are associated with indecent images. When interviewed, Stephen said he was speaking online to a female in America and he started sending cartoon pornography. He said she initially said she was 19.

He then sent her one indecent image of a girl aged around 10 being abused and she told him she was a child. Stephen told police he didn't believe he had a sexual attraction to children and claimed he was just addicted to pornography.

The 25-year-old, of Brighton Road, Gateshead, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images, distributing one category A image, possessing prohibited images and possessing extreme pornography. He was sentenced to two years suspended for two years with a four month curfew. He must also sign the sex offenders register for ten years and was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order.

Tony Cornberg, defending, said Stephen has mental health issues and has voluntarily signed up to the "Stop it Now" programme to tackle his offending.

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Robert Farrow, of Gateshead, had been released on licence for sexually assaulting a child and distributing indecent images when he breached restrictions placed on him

A pervert who was caught with a child in his home after being released from prison on licence has been put back behind bars.

Robert Farrow was released from an eight-and-a-half year jail term last year, with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and strict conditions in place, designed to keep him away from children. But Newcastle Crown Court heard in May this year police went to his home after a tip-off and found a teenage girl there with him.

The 29-year-old, of Milling Court, Gateshead, admitted breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and has now been jailed for ten months.

Description

A convicted gangland killer and rapist smashed a can of lager into his girlfriend's face because she didn't want to drink.

Stephen Rice, who has served prison sentences for an underworld shooting manslaughter in Newcastle city centre, wounding with intent and rape, had been released on licence when he attacked his partner. A court heard she lived in the flat above his in Gateshead and they had begun a relationship after growing close when she initially went round to complain about noise.

In April last year she was at home and could hear him downstairs in his flat smashing things up. He then went to her flat at 7am with a badly injured finger which was bleeding. She wrapped a towel around it and offered to call an ambulance but he refused.

Alec Burns, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court: "He had brought four cans of lager with him and he started accusing her of seeing other men. She swore she had not and got upset. Because she would not drink, he smashed a full can of lager in her face. He then got upset and said 'look what you've made me do' and began to cry."

When interviewed by police, Rice, 55, of Redheugh Court, Gateshead, claimed she had hit herself with the can but he later went on to plead guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Jailing him for 14 months, Recorder Carl Gumsley said: "This was a nasty offence against somebody you were professing to have a meaningful and, one assumes, loving relationship and it happened in her home.

"You have an appalling and most troubling record - you have convictions for some of the most serious offences of violence."

Ian Brook, defending, said: "There was disharmony borne out of his jealousy. There's some remorse expressed in the report.

"He met her as she had complained about the racket in is flat and they entered a relationship which was somewhat volatile. He was a career criminal. She was aware of the manslaughter conviction and the rapes. He was required to disclose to anyone he wanted to have a relationship with that he had those convictions.

"The complainant and defendant were kindred spirits. They both had mental health issues and drank to excess and had drug issues. He was released for the rape convictions in June 2018 and he says he turned a corner."

Rice was convicted of manslaughter and jailed for eight years after he shot dead a rival during a gunfight in a crowded Bigg Market bar only days before Christmas in 1995. That involved a shoot-out in Maceys bar, where Rice was already carrying a pistol when rival Frankie Kelly, 28, opened fire as revellers tried to take cover. Rice pulled his own gun from his waistband, pulled the trigger and shot Mr Kelly in the chest.

He was back inside for six-and-a-half years in 2006 for his part in a conspiracy to spread cocaine through the city.

In 2011 he was jailed for 11 years for a sustained attack on a mother in her own Newcastle home. He struck the victim from behind with a weightlifting bar. Rice then landed more blows before raping her.