Latest Offenders Hartlepool

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A rapist has been jailed for an attack he carried out a number of years ago.

Mark Thompson, 21, was convicted of rape by a unanimous jury at Teesside Crown Court last month. The trial heard that Thompson made "admissions" of guilt in messages he sent to the victim after the attack.

But Thompson insisted the victim must have hacked his account, and sent the messages.

On Friday, the court heard that the probation service had expressed concerns about Thompson, who suffers from a stutter and has suspected learning difficulties, in prison.

Rod Hunt, defending, told the court: "The probation officer was stark - she feels he will have difficulties.

"He was not fully developed when he carried out the offence and I suspect, he's not fully developed now. He's been sitting outside the court weeping. It's not just his stutter, there's suspected learning difficulties."

Prosecutor Ian West told the court that the rape had had a "catastrophic effect" on the victim. In a statement, the victim said that the stress over what had happened had affected their weight, and now has "the physical strength of a 62-year-old."

The statement said: "My anxiety worsened. I started pulling my hair out. My trust in men has gone. The verdict means that I am now believed and I can finally move on. I do believe he deserves prison."

Recorder Aisha Wadoodi told Thompson: "The message you sent after the rape - they were admissions of guilt. I have to balance your age at the time, your communication difficulties - I am aware that prison will be difficult for you - with the serious psychological harm you caused your victim.

"I am satisfied that there was a catastrophic affect."

The judge jailed Thompson, of Seaton Lane in Hartlepool, for three-years-and-11-months.

He will serve half of the sentence before he is eligible for release; and was made subject to sex offender notification requirements for the rest of his life.

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A pervert who trawled the internet for child sex victims was trapped after a vigilante group used decoys pretending to be as young as 12.

Lee Wright-King, 34, from Hartlepool, walked into a trap on the town's railway station where he was confronted by men from the group STOP and police.

In his pocket he was carrying a sex toy and lubricant.

Wright-King had been in daily contact for weeks with two ‘girls’ aged 12 and 14 who were women working with the group operating to catch paedophiles menacing children.

He used an alias to groom the decoys, offering to meet the elder one in Wales before settling for a meeting with the ‘12 year old’ in Middlesbrough and then Hartlepool on September 20.

In answer to his questions, she said that she had never had a boyfriend and she did not know how to kiss.

Wright-King said he would take her into the woods for sex, said prosecutor Emma Atkinson.

He asked her to wear a summer dress and he said that he could not wait to meet her, Teesside Crown Court was told.

Christine Egerton, defending, said in mitigation that he had only one previous conviction for a relatively minor offence of shoplifting.

She added: “It is fortunate that there was no actual child to be involved here.

“He has expressed genuine remorse and he is well-disposed to carrying our work to address his offending

“He tells me that he is determined not to be involved in any sort of this behaviour again.”

Judge Jonathan Carroll told Wright-King, who appeared over a videolink from Durham Prison: “You put these decoy girls under a degree of pressure not to reveal your existence because you knew full well what would happen."

Wright-King of Straker Street, was jailed for 27 months, given a 15-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order banning contact with children and was ordered to register as a sex offender for an identical period.

He pleaded guilty to two offences of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and one of attempting to meet a child for sex.

The judge ordered the destruction of the sex toy and lubricant.

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A convicted sex offender has been jailed after he contacted a number of under-16 girls from a secret digital tablet.

Anthony Metcalfe adopted an alias in conversations with the girls on Snapchat from his home in an outhouse behind a relative’s address in Hartlepool.

The 34-year-old, who was a registered sex offender for life since he was convicted in 2015 of three sexual assaults on children, messaged the youngsters with comments, including ‘nice bum’ and ‘beautiful’.

His ban on contact with children was from a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) which was also imposed in 2015 and he was later jailed for 16 months for breaching it five times, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Rachel Masters, prosecuting, said Metcalfe’s illicit tablet was discovered by police during a visit from his police offending manager on May 10. 

 She said the defendant had a list of names he classed as Snapchat friends and checks identified six were under 16 – two were aged 15, three were aged 13 and one was aged just 12.

“Direct messages had been sent to them such as ‘nice bum’ and ‘beautiful’ and this contact places him in breach of his sexual harm prevention order,” she added.

The court heard how the defendant had 25 convictions for 47 offences, including failing to tell a mother he was visiting at her home that he was a convicted sex offender.

Metcalfe, of Willow Walk, Hartlepool, pleaded guilty to six breaches of SHPO and two breaches of his notification requirements. 

 Stephen Constantine, in mitigation, said his client could have an underlying mental health condition which he had hidden for a number of years.

He added: “The only real mitigation in this case is his guilty pleas to each count – given at the earliest opportunity.

“It is clear from the pre-sentence report that there may well be an underlying mental health issue.”

Judge Howard Crowson sentenced Metcalfe to two years and eight months for the breaches.

He said: “Given your history, I have a real anxiety about the risk that you pose. These are serious and persistent breaches, contact with six different children, some really young and at risk of very serious harm.” 

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A pervert from Hartlepool who was caught spying on a female with a hidden camera has been jailed. Former Army officer Peter Cartwright installed the camera to record the victim a number of times without her knowledge for his own sick kicks. He was arrested after the stunned victim discovered it leaving her feeling sickened, Teesside Crown Court heard. Prosecutor Nigel Soppitt said she found it after she spotted a red light and shouted out: Why is there a camera [here]? Cartwright, 44, tried to suggest he had been trying to recreate the same thrill from his former surveillance activities in the Army. But the judge strongly rejected that. Cartwright initially claimed it was the first time he had hidden the camera to spy on the female. But he later confessed he had done it several times. The victim said she felt physically sick upon finding it adding: It was the nastiest shock Ive ever had in my life. The court heard it has had a major effect on her and her family with the victim even feeling suicidal and said she still has nightmares about it. Her partner said she had changed from being a bubbly outgoing person previously. Cartwright, of Oxford Road, Hartlepool, pleaded guilty to a single count of voyeurism at Teesside Magistrates Court last month. His lawyer Rod Hunt urged Judge Howard Crowson to draw back from immediate prison citing Cartwrights lack of previous convictions and 22 years military service. Mr Hunt said: Your Honour is not dealing with a man who is a habitual attender of these premises. "He was obviously a very good soldier indeed. Sometimes thats eclipsed by an act such as this. But Judge Crowson told Cartwright: Im afraid I do take the view that this type of offence is so serious and the harm caused is so grave that the only way I can appropriately punish you is by immediate custody. The judge said he did not believe Cartwright had shown real remorse adding: Your claim that this was done to recreate the thrill of your time as an Army surveillance officer is unbelievable and I reject it. Cartwright was jailed for eight months and will be on the sex offenders register for 10 years.

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Mark Sorby, 45, was found guilty of 16 sexual offences against four females when they were children after a trial at Teesside Crown Court last month.

The abuse involved him touching the victims in a sexual nature, some of which involved force, over a period of about nine years.

Sorby got away with it for years after telling his victims not to tell anyone.

When one did report it, she was not believed.

But he was convicted when each of his victims gave evidence against him at court and the jury saw through his lies.

All of the survivors of Sorbys abuse have suffered psychological harm.

One attended Mondays sentencing and read out an impact statement while Sorby listened over a videolink from prison.

She said: I have nightmares about what Mark did to me and have previously tried to kill myself.

"This traumatic ordeal has affected my full life. No one deserves to be sexually assaulted and no one deserves not to be believed.

Another survivor wrote: You made me feel completely worthless. I cry myself to sleep at night.

"You robbed me of the best years of my life.

Prosecutor Shaun Dodds said during one sex assault that Sorby dragged and pinned the victim down.

Afterwards he told her: Nobody will believe you if you tell.

Jailing Sorby, of Ettrick Walk, Hartlepool, Judge Howard Crowson said: You are quite obviously a predatory paedophile.

"You are entirely to blame. The offences were carefully carried out so you would not bring suspicion on yourself.

"You clearly have caused a great deal of harm.

Judge Crowson also sentenced Sorby, who he described as an offender of particular concern, to two and a half years extended supervision when he is eventually released.

Stephen Constantine, said in mitigation, that Sorby was a man of previous good character.

He added: Whilst there are aspects of physical force involved, there are no threats of physical violence.

Sorby was also made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order to bar him having contact with girls under the age of 16.

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Lewis Fisher, 28, who is from Hartlepool, initially denied the offence to police after they were quickly alerted.

But forensic tests on swabs taken from the girl eventually provided DNA evidence to prosecute him, Teesside Crown Court was told.

Shaun Dodds, prosecuting, read a victim impact statement on her behalf in which she said: I cant trust anyone, I dont feel safe. I feel traumatised and it will be for ever.

She also felt as though her claims were initially disbelieved and that she was being punished for something that was not my fault.

Michele Turner, defending, told the court: He does now have an understanding of the impact of what he has done

There are understandably features which quite rightly left the court concerned about.

He accepts that his family have to serve any sentence with him.

Judge Chris Smith said Fishers victim had a degree of vulnerability because of previous problems and was taken advantage of by him.

Passing sentence, Judge Smith told him: When you were arrested you denied doing the offence but the scientific evidence supported her and you had the good sense to plead guilty.

The impact upon her has been very substantial partly because she went through a period of being disbelieved.

Fisher, who is a carer and is from Kesteven Road, was jailed for five years.

He will also be monitored for life by a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and be a registered sex offender for life after he pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a child.

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The mum of a sexually abused girl has been granted her wish for other children to be protected during her attackers lifetime. Jailed David Brunt, 53, from Hartlepool, was given a life ban on having unsupervised contact with children and ordered to register as a sex offender for life. The woman, who cannot be named to protect her child, said in a victim impact statement read out at Teesside Crown Court that the youngster still suffers nightmares and wets the bed years after her ordeal. Brunt insisted on a trial and the traumatised youngster had to undergo a cross examination by his defence lawyer before he caved in and finally pleaded guilty. Prosecutor Jane Waugh read out the statement for the mother, saying the girl confided to a relative and, addressing Brunt, it said: My whole world came crashing down. I found out what you had done to my daughter and her life will never be the same again. You have stolen her childhood and for that I will never forgive you. You should never be allowed to live within human society. I have to get up during the night when she has nightmares and cannot sleep and I have to change the bed when It is wet. You should be locked away for the rest of your life where you cannot hurt young children. I hope you go to prison for a very long time and you deserve everything that comes to you. When police went to interview Brunt, they found indecent images of children on his mobile phone. Ian Mullarkey, defending, said that it was accepted that the offences were aggravated by their repeated nature. He added: The pre-sentence report shows a limited acceptance by him of his wrong doing which can be improved upon over time and he accepts that an immediate custodial sentence is inevitable. Judge Howard Crowson told Brunt that he was imposing an indefinite sexual harm prevention order on him to protect members of the public from you. Brunt, of Balcary Court, Hartlepool, was jailed for five-and-a-half years, given a lifetime restraining order banning contact with the girl and her family after he pleaded guilty to two charges of sexual assault on a girl under 13 and three offences of making indecent images of children.

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A RAPIST who preyed on a vulnerable young girl after meeting her in a bar has been jailed. Convicted drug dealer Valentine Livingston persuaded his teenage victim to return to his home with a group of friends for a party. However, CCTV footage from a pizza takeaway showed how the victim was mortal drunk and in no fit state to consent to sex, Teesside Crown Court heard. The 35-year-old raped the woman in his bed before hiding her underwear under his mattress after he took advantage of her while they were in Spensley's nightclub on Albert Road, Middlesbrough, in July 2017. The court heard during Livingstons trial how the victim had awoken in his bed without her underwear and in pain. During his evidence, he accepted that they had had sex but insisted that he stopped when she had asked him to. Recorder Peter Hampton jailed Livingston to eight years in prison after he was found guilty of rape in December last year. At the time of the offence she was out in Middlesbrough town centre, just as many people do, he said. During the course of the night she consumed alcohol, she got drunk, just as many young people do. That young girl, incapacitated like she was, should have been looked after, she should have been cared for. Unfortunately, she was to cross your path. The court had heard how she had fallen off a stool in a pizza shop before she was taken back to his flat. A witness said - she was mortal drunk; she was all over, she could barely stand or walk in a straight line. Back at your flat she went to bed, to sleep but you followed her you raped her, he added. This was predatory behaviour and it was driven by a sense of sexual entitlement you possessed at the time of the offence. There was no thought from you about the victim, the impact it would have upon her and you were intent in only satisfying your own sexual desires. Praising the bravery of the victim, he added: She had to wait over four years for the trial to take place, she has shown great fortitude, dignity, and resilience in enduring that unacceptable delay and the experience of giving evidence. I make the same observations about the other witnesses who came to court to give evidence. Livingston, of Avondale Gardens, Dyke House, Hartlepool, formerly of Middlesbrough, denied two counts of rape - claiming the sex was consensual on both occasions. He was acquitted of raping a second woman who said she smoked skunk at his flat after a night out, before going to sleep in Livingston's bed. Paul Abrahams, in mitigation, said his client had cleaned up his lifestyle since the rape was committed in 2017 and was due to become a father again later this year. Livingston was also made subject of an indefinite restraining order to protect both complainants. Speaking after the hearing, investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Lizzie Stubbs, said: I welcome the sentence passed today and hope it brings a degree of comfort to the victim who has shown great courage throughout the investigation and court process. Livingston took advantage of a vulnerable teenage girl and is clearly a danger. Anyone who is victim of rape or any kind of sexual abuse can rest assured they can report in complete confidence to Cleveland Police. We have specially trained officers and we also work closely with local specialist agencies; together we will deal with your report sensitively and thoroughly, while offering all the support you may need.

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Vincent Douglas, 53, was jailed at Teesside Crown Court on Tuesday, September 7, after he pleaded guilty to a series of sex offences against the youngsters committed a number of years ago.

His offending later came to light when one of his victims told staff at her college what he had done to her.

Douglas originally denied matters, including after the case was sent to the crown court.

But he confessed to six counts before a trial took place. He admitted two counts of sexual assault of a child, two of assault of a child by penetration and two of sexual activity with a child.

Douglas was sentenced to a total of nine years and five months in prison.

Police have welcomed the sentence saying it sends a clear message to abusers that they have nowhere to hide.

Judge Timothy Stead said: “This is multiple repeat offending.”

Referring to an impact statement made by one of the victim’s Judge Stead said: “She speaks of panic attacks and flashbacks and she herself feeling guilty.

"Of course she shouldn’t feel guilty, but that I’m afraid is a common consequence, phenomenon, of offending of this nature.”

The second victim talked about not trusting people or wishing to go out on her own because of what happened.

A Cleveland Police spokesperson said: “We welcome the sentence handed to Douglas; it sends a very clear message that those who abuse children have nowhere to hide.

“Our specially trained officers will always investigate thoroughly any form of abuse against children, no matter how long ago it happened.

"Victims and their families will also receive specialist support from police and other agencies throughout the entire process while we do all we can to bring perpetrators before the courts.

“We hope today’s sentence brings comfort and a degree of closure to the victims and their families.”

Douglas, of Greenwood Road, Hartlepool, will be on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.

He was also given one year’s extended licence for when he is released.

Anyone experiencing any form of abuse, or has concerns about someone you believe to be at risk, is urged to contact Cleveland Police on 101, available 24 hours a day.

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The victim of Paul Maiden's drink and drug-fuelled sex attack is now looking to the future, Teesside Crown Court heard A woman went through "pure hell" when a rapist forced himself on her while she was sleeping next to her boyfriend. Now she says she is looking to the future as sex attacker Paul Maiden, 33, starts a long prison sentence. A judge said she hoped the woman could take comfort from the fact a jury believed her and convicted the rapist. Maiden had been drinking and taking cocaine when he began raping the woman while she and her boyfriend slept. She awoke to find him having sex with her, Teesside Crown Court heard on Wednesday. "Initially she thought it was her boyfriend then realised that he was asleep next to her and realised it was you," Judge Deborah Sherwin told Maiden. "There was something of a struggle. "She was left covered in bruises. It isn't clear to me at all how this happened. Something happened to cause her that bruising." Woman suffered post-traumatic stress disorder The woman's boyfriend woke up to her shouting that Maiden had raped her, and he chased Maiden away. Maiden was cut to the hand with a knife, and the boyfriend gave evidence that he felt he had to defend himself from the rapist. In a moving statement the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said she went through "pure hell". Prosecutor Paul Newcombe said: "She has lost her self-esteem and it's compounded issues she had. "She's still suffering from depression and a form of post-traumatic stress disorder but is looking forward to the future with confidence." Judge Sherwin said the woman was particularly vulnerable as she was sleeping. She said the victim was also affected by alcohol as she was found to be four times the alcohol limit for driving afterwards. 'It's had a profound effect on her life' "It's had a profound effect on her life," added the judge. "She sets out in her statement the attempt she has made to take her own life. "I can only hope that she gains some comfort from the jury's verdict in this case." Maiden, of Hartlepool Marina, denied rape but was convicted by a jury after a trial last week. He had no previous convictions for sexual offences and had been out of trouble since a drink driving offence in 2010. 'Quite excessive levels of drinking' Robin Denny, defending, said: "No relevant convictions. He's never been sent away. "An incident which would never have happened if there hadn't been a background of quite excessive levels of drinking." Passing sentence, Judge Sherwin said: "It could be argued she has suffered from severe psychological harm. "The best mitigation is that you have no relevant previous convictions. "You are effectively of good character and have never served a custodial sentence before." Maiden was jailed for eight years. He was given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order banning him from contacting the victim, and will be on the sex offenders' register for life.

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A man has been sentenced to 5 years in prison for sexually assaulting another man. Martin Marine, 48, of Hartlepool, was sentenced today at Carlisle Crown Court after being found guilty. He was already on the sex offenders register for life. Marine had befriended his 20-year-old victim while out in Bowness on February 8 this year. He went back to the victims house with another person to carry on drinking and while there stated he could not get home, so the victim agreed he could stay the night. The victim has then fallen asleep and awoken to find that he was being sexually assaulted by Marine. Marine is a dangerous man who targets young and vulnerable men. Detective Constable Garin Scott, Cumbria Police

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A PAEDOPHILE whose case caused uproar when he was allowed to go free because of apparent police blunders was back in court today.

Child pornography pervert David Berry was hit with an order which means his activities will now be monitored and restricted by the authorities.

Judge Michael Taylor sparked fury in September when he spared 61-year-old Berry, despite saying: “This man fully deserves to go to prison.”

He blamed Cleveland Police for taking so long to bring the case to court and for an officer turning up late to show him the indecent images of children.

The judge also refused to impose a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) on Berry because he said the terms were “incomprehensible”.

Today, a new draft SOPO was put before the court, and Judge Taylor imposed it, telling Berry: “It will apply for the rest of your life.”

The order bans the sex offender from having unsupervised contact with under-18s, and fitting anti-forensic software to his computer.

Berry will also have to allow police risk management officers access to his Hartlepool home and let them examine the contents of his computer.

He was given a community order in September after he admitted 16 charges of making indecent images of children and possessing more than 500 others.

Police found the pictures and short films on six different storage devices during a raid at his home in Lowthian Road, Hartlepool, in July 2007.

Wheelchair-user Berry, who was jailed in 1988 for indecently assaulting a child, was also ordered to undergo a sex offenders’ treatment programme.

At Teesside Crown Court yesterday, controversial Judge Taylor again criticised the prosecution, describing it as “totally unsatisfactory”.

Berry’s barrister, Peter Sabiston, said: “I have discussed the draft SOPO with my client, and the prohibitions seem to be workable and reasonable.”

Last night, Berry’s daughter, Jayne, who criticised the decision to spare her father prison, welcomed the move to carefully monitor his activities.

The 35-year-old said: “He should have gone to jail last time, but I’m glad the order has finally been made, and hopefully it will prevent a repeat.”

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REMORSELESS child molester Colin Raymond Taylor today begins an 18-year prison sentence for a litany of devastating sexual abuse.

The 41-year-old pervert was given the jail term as the three girls who spoke out against him were commended for their courage.

Judge Peter Armstrong told Taylor yesterday: “I take the view that you remain a danger to young girls and accordingly a substantial sentence will be necessary.

“You still continue to deny matters completely despite the overwhelming evidence against you.

“And you show absolutely no remorse whatsoever.”

He passed sentence at Teesside Crown Court for a list of 30 sex crimes against girls as young as six, some stretching back to the 1980s.

After a two-week trial last month, a jury found him guilty of 19 charges.

These included seven counts of child rape - “one of the most serious offences in the criminal calendar,” said the judge yesterday.

He was also convicted on charges of indecent or sexual assault, sexual activity with a child and actual bodily harm assault.

He denied all of the abuse, claiming it didn’t happen and accusing the complainants and their supporters of lying.

“They are to be commended for having the courage to give evidence,” added the judge.

He told Taylor: “You had a trial in which you made the three victims of your sexual abuse relive the ordeals that you put them through. Anyone sitting through that trial heard a catalogue of appalling abuse.”

The judge said Taylor video recorded some of his crimes and tried to avoid detection. When one girl complained about what he did, he physically assaulted her.

He told how one victim, now a grown adult, particularly suffered from the “indignities” imposed upon her.

It led to her becoming involved in drug addiction and prostitution, affected her ability to trust men and caused difficulties in relationships.

“It devastated her life,” said Judge Armstrong.

He praised her dignity recounting her experiences in the witness box to bring her abuser to justice.

He said Taylor also took advantage of two other girls, repeatedly touching and interfering with them.

Days after the trial, Taylor admitted 11 offences of making indecent photographs of children - 11 still and moving images found on his computer, downloaded during 2007.

Some were child abuse images involving girls as young as 10, placing them in the second most serious category in law.

The judge said Taylor’s offending in recent years showed he “still harboured distorted thinking” and had a sexual interest in underage girls.

Adrian Dent, defending, said there was little he could say in mitigation for Taylor, of Macaulay Road, Hartlepool.

He said: “Overall he understands that there will be a substantial custodial sentence, even though he has no previous convictions.

“There was a substantial gap in offending.”

He said Taylor had worked hard throughout his life, it would be his first time in prison and he would have “an extremely difficult time” there.

Mr Dent added that Taylor was a young man at the time of some of his crimes. The judge said this was no excuse.

Taylor was banned from working with children indefinitely.

He also received an indefinite sexual offences prevention order banning contact with under-18s or his victims, having photographs of children, camera or video equipment or accessing the internet.

Detective Constable Zoe McCarthy said today: “The sexual abuse of children ruins lives, and the sexual abuse committed against the victims of Colin Taylor has had a devastating effect upon them.

“The substantial sentence today reflects the seriousness of the offences committed.

“Sexual offences against children, no matter how many years ago, will be thoroughly investigated by the Child Abuse Investigation Unit of Cleveland Police.

“The families of the two teenage victims have stated that they are very pleased Taylor has been brought to justice and the girls are now trying to rebuild their lives.

“Taylor’s other victim, who is now an adult, has spoken of how the abuse has changed her life forever causing her great emotional suffering which she is now trying to overcome.”

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A COURT security guard who conducted a “campaign of rape” on four children was yesterday jailed for 15 years.

Paul Aird used the two boys and two girls, “for his sexual gratification” in a litany of abuse spanning more than 20 years.

The 49-year-old guard, who worked at Hartlepool Magistrates’ Court, was convicted of raping and indecently assaulting the four victims in his car and at his home, following a five-day trial at Teesside Crown Court, in July.

He claimed the allegations were engineered by his former wife’s family following his second marriage to a younger woman.

The trial jury was told that Aird, of Oxford Road, Hartlepool, told one girl to stay silent for years because the shock would kill her ill mother.

Despite his denials, Aird was found guilty of seven charges of rape, two of buggery, one of attempted rape, and three of indecent assault, on dates between December 1981 and February 2002.

He was cleared of indecent assaults on two women, at a barbecue and at a Christmas party. Judge Evans directed the jury to acquit him of another buggery offence and an indecent assault.

He was brought back for sentence yesterday, when Durham Crown Court was told that, despite the verdicts, Aird still denies the allegations.

Robin Denny, mitigating, said:

“There’s nothing I can say about the offences. He still denies them and his wife stands by him.”

Mr Denny revealed that following sentencing Aird was to attend his father’s funeral.

Judge Evans told Aird: “You turned your attentions from one victim to another without any shame, remorse or compassion, using each to satisfy your sexual gratification.

It’s a tribute to them that they have managed to make something of their lives, not withstanding what happened to them.”

Aird was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for life and is forbidden from working with children for life. He is also subject to various restrictions under the terms of a sexual offences’ prevention order.

Speaking after the sentence, Detective Sergeant Matt Mason, of Cleveland Police’s Hartlepool child abuse investigation unit, said: “The victims, who are now all adults, are delighted with this outcome.”