Latest Offenders Newcastle

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A man who engaged in sex chat with who he thought was a teenage boy has narrowly kept his freedom.

Christopher Seymour, now 51, downloaded the social media site Kick and began communicating with a 14-year-old over the course of one afternoon in June last year.

However, Newcastle Crown Court heard that Seymour was actually talking to a member of an undercover child safety team who went by the username 'UK bi couple.'

Prosecutor Sophie Johnstone said the decoy clearly stated in his profile he was 14 but Seymour twice lied about his own age, stating he was 36, then 38, when in fact he was 50 at the time.

The court heard the defendant sent "graphic" messages and images and also tried to incite his victim into performing a sexual act. Ms Johnstone said: "The decoy confirmed to the defendant he was still at school and he could message at lunchtime." She told the court that enquiries were made to find out the identity of the person behind the defendant's account via the Kick site.

Seymour, of Millais Gardens, South Shields, was then arrested in November. He later pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to cause a child of ages 13 to 15 to watch or look at an image of a sexual nature.

He also admitted attempting to cause or incite a boy aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity.

Vic Laffey, defending, said: "He got involved in this wholly inappropriate conversation and started and ended on the same day when he recognised the position he had got himself in. "What is significant while accepting the seriousness of the offences, is the offence took place in one day in the space of five hours." Mr Recorder Cox KC told Seymour that an immediate prison sentence would have been inevitable had the conversation have lasted longer than a single day.

The recorder said: "I'm just persuaded I don't need to do that in your case today in part because you pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and in part because you have no previous offending for this sort of matter and in part because it's plain that thus were conversations over a relatively short period in a single day." He sentenced Seymour to 18 months suspended or two years with rehabilitation requirements, and ordered him to sign the sex offender's register for ten years.

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A man who raped a teenage girl has been locked up for more than a decade for his crimes.

Mark Fairman, 24, targeted his victim during a gathering in the early hours of December 27, 2018.

Things took a sinister turn when Fairman, who had remained at the address afterwards, attempted to ply the girl with alcohol over a number of hours.

The pair had been sat on the sofa together before Fairman pinned her down and raped her.

The victim was so traumatised by what had happened that she didn’t tell anyone straight away.

However, three months later, the terrified teenager confided in friends and family and an investigation was launched by Northumbria Police.

Fairman, of Rowanberry Road, Longbenton, North Tyneside, was subsequently arrested and charged with one count of rape.

He denied the charges but was found guilty during a trial at Newcastle Crown Court earlier this year.

And on Friday (April 19), at that same court, he was sentenced to 12 years behind bars.

He was also made to sign to the Sex Offenders’ Register for life, given a restraining order preventing contact with this victim and handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

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A man who followed a woman through York city centre as she walked home at night before sexually assaulting her on her doorstep has been jailed.

Samtex Wangchuck, 21, did not know the victim, said Martin Butterworth, prosecuting at York Magistrates' Court.

She was on the phone to her partner when Wangchuck grabbed her between the legs from behind.

The cleaner had decided “it would be a good opportunity to commit an offence” when he spotted her on her own in the city centre at about 3.30am and thought she had been drinking, said Mr Butterworth.

She didn't realise Wangchuck was following her on his bike through the city centre, past the City Walls and towards the suburbs as she walked home after completing her late-night shift at a hospitality venue.

She had phoned her partner when she started her journey home and was talking to him as she walked.

Wangchuck gradually got closer to her and when she was nearly home, she saw him. By then he was off his bike and about 15 to 20 feet away.

She put her key in her front door and Wangchuck sexually assaulted her. She was still on the phone to her partner.

In a personal statement, she said she now ensures that she always has company on the way home.

“I have lived in York my entire life and never been afraid of walking home alone at night until now,” she said. “I am extremely worried now that he may have done this before.”

Mr Butterworth said Wangchuck told police he had sexually assaulted the woman for his own sexual gratification.

Wangchuck, of Park Crescent, The Groves, pleaded guilty to sexual assault committed in February. He had no previous convictions.

A probation report before the court said that Wangchuck was a “risk to women” and that he didn’t appear to understand the effect of his crime on the victim.

York magistrates jailed him for 12 weeks.

“You targeted a lone vulnerable woman at night, believing her to be in drink. You followed her home,” they told him.

They also made him subject to a lifetime restraining order banning him from contacting the victim in any way or going to her home and banned him from following any woman on her own under a five-year sexual harm prevention order. Wangchuck will be on the sex offenders’ register for seven years.

For him, Colin Byrne said it was a very “odd” incident for which Wangchuck was remorseful. He handed in references from Wangchuck’s family about his remorse and his efforts to reform himself since the offence.

The public would be better protected if Wangchuck could be given a suspended sentence under which he could work with probation officers to tackle the cause of his offending, said Mr Byrne.

He had already had a taste of custody as he had been remanded in custody following his arrest and then released on bail without conditions after pleading guilty.

He worked nights as a cleaner and had finished work early that night.

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Pervert Martin Rhodes has been jailed after he tried to encourage a 14-year-old 'girl' to perform a sex act. The 52-year-old, who was jailed for similar matters in 2017, was in fact communicating with a paedophile hunter.

But Rhodes asked the 'girl' to send pictures of herself and he sent intimate pictures to her. The police were called in and he had deleted the conversation on his phone, which he was banned from doing under the terms of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) imposed seven years ago.

Now Rhodes has been jailed for four-and-a-half years at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court. Prosecutor Jonathan Dickinson said the police were contacted by a member of a paedophile hunter group in February who said he was speaking to the defendant online.

Mr Dickinson said: "He was posing as a 14-year-old girl. The decoy was using an app which made it appear she looked like a 14-year-old child.

"The defendant initiated the communication by sending a Facebook friend request. The decoy made clear her age was 14.

"The conversation quickly turned sexual. The defendant asked to send pictures of herself. He explained how to perform a sex act on herself.

"He also sent her videos of pornography. He sent pictures of his private area and the private area of an adult woman. He encouraged her to buy a sex toy.

"He sent her his phone number, images of his car and himself. A police officer was able to identify him. There was a conversation about meeting up but it did not go far enough.

"The communication stopped on February 18. Police attended his address three days later. He was arrested. A number of devices were seized for examination. His phone did not have the conversation with the decoy on it. He must have deleted it. That placed him in breach of a SHPO he received in July 2017 when he was jailed for four years for attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity."

Rhodes, of Knights Croft, Keele, pleaded guilty to attempted sexual communication with a child; two charges of attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity; attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act and two charges of breaching a SHPO.

Martin Bloor, mitigating, said Rhodes, a dad-of-four, knew he would receive a significant sentence. He added the defendant has a number of health issues.

Judge Graeme Smith said: "You have convictions in 2017 for offences which followed a very similar pattern where you contacted someone online through Facebook and WhatsApp who you believed to be a child. In that case the child was 11, in this case a 14-year-old. In both cases there was no actual child.

"You sent a number of sexual photos and videos. You also tried to get the same from the person you were communicating with. You also discussed sexual matters and encouraged her to perform a sex act.

"There was no real child. It was people who deliberately set up profiles to ensnare people like yourself who look for young girls on the internet."

Rhodes remains subject to the SHPO and is on the sex offenders' register indefinitely.

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A South Tyneside paedophile offered a young boy ice cream before committing a sexual offence against him.

Andrew Snook asked a young boy to come to his home and remove his clothes. The 56-year-old was caught later when the young boy told his mother what had happened. Snook, who has a history of sexual offending against boys, has now been caged for the offence.

On Wednesday, Snook, of Boldon Colliery, South Tyneside, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court to be sentenced for causing a child to engage in sexual activity. He had pleaded guilty the offence.

David Povall, prosecuting, said Snook had previous convictions for sexual offending.

Snook was caught for this offence after the child told his mum he had been to Snook's flat where he was asked to remove clothing. Mr Povall said: "There had been a discussion as to whether he would get an ice cream."

The court was told that Snook has a "predilection for sexual activity with young boys" and had committed offences in the 1980s and 1990s. In 1996, he committed common assault against a young boy by putting his hand over his mouth and dragging him into a house before the boy escaped.

Geoff Knowles, defending, said Snook had been to prison twice before but had lived a "law abiding life" since then. He said: "He is a lonely man and suffered abuse when he was much younger.

"Clearly, some issues in his past contributed to this state of affairs. He knows now he will face a custodial sentence for these matters. He is sorry, and sorry for the upset he has caused."

Judge Stephen Earl jailed Snook for four years and 11 months. He was also put on the sex offender register for life and made subject to a lifelong sexual harm prevention order. He was also made subject to a restraining order.

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The suspect in an alkali attack in south London was convicted of a sex offence in 2018 and was later granted asylum after three attempts.

Police are looking for Abdul Shakoor Ezedi, 35, who was last seen in north London on Wednesday evening.

A mother and her three-year-old daughter hurt by the corrosive substance could have suffered "life-changing" injuries in the attack.

Police have warned people not to approach Ezedi and to instead call 999.

The 31-year-old woman and her daughter remain in hospital, along with her older daughter, eight.

Five police officers were injured as they responded, as were four members of the public who tried to help.

The attack took place near Clapham Common at about 19:25 on Wednesday.

The suspect attempted to escape the scene in a car but crashed into a stationary vehicle, then ran.

One witness described seeing the suspect lift a young child over his head and throw her onto the ground like a "ragdoll", telling the BBC the incident was like a "horror movie".

A community worker who knows Ezedi has appealed for him to give himself up, and to get medical help for his injuries.

Azad, who helps refugees in Newcastle where Ezedi lives, described the 35-year-old as polite and respectful.

In 2018, Ezedi was convicted of one charge of sexual assault and one of exposure, before being granted asylum in 2020.

He received a nine-week jail term suspended for two years for the sexual assault and, for the exposure, 36 weeks' imprisonment to be served consecutively, also suspended for two years.

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A pet-collecting paedophile who sexually abused two youngsters has been jailed for 27 years.

Fraser Brennan subjected the children to sickening abuse which has left both of them traumatised. Newcastle Crown Court heard the 35-year-old was previously convicted of sexually assaulting two other youngsters when he was 15 or 16 years old. He got a community order for that then was cautioned twice for breaching a sex offender registration requirement.

In relation to the latest case, the court heard Brennan kept a selection of animals, including a bearded dragon, snake and rabbits and he admitted the pets were attractive to children, although a judge said it was unclear whether he kept them for that purpose.

Brennan denied offending against the victims but was convicted of two counts of assault by penetration on one of them and attempted rape and two counts of assault by penetration on the other.

The abuse came to light after a school teacher was alerted and Brennan was arrested. He continues to deny any wrongdoing.

In a victim impact statement, one youngster said they are "more angry than ever" and has self-harmed. They added that they'll never forget it but hopes to use the experience to grow stronger.

The second victim said they have not been happy since the abuse and has depression, anxiety and has self-harmed.

Judge Christopher Prince jailed Brennan, of Camperdown, North Tyneside, for 27 years with an extended licence period of a further six years. He will also have to sign the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Fiona Lamb, defending, said: "There's a different side to this defendant. His family are supportive of him."

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A 76-year-old man who paid to watch children be sexually abused in the Philippines has been jailed.

Leslie Fletcher, of Brancepeth Close, Washington, requested indecent photographs and videos of babies and children online.

Northumbria Police Det Con Rob Smoult said offenders such as Fletcher were "not welcome in our communities".

Fletcher was sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on Monday to five years and nine months in prison.

Specialist officers from the force's Paedophile Online Investigation Team (Polit) became aware of Fletcher's crimes after Google and Microsoft flagged the sharing of indecent images.

When officers seized Fletcher's devices, they found receipts and records of calls with people abusing their children.

'No excuse'

Fletcher was charged and pleaded guilty to 14 charges.

These included three counts of making indecent images of children, three counts of arranging the commission of child sex offences, four counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and four counts of attempting to cause a child to engage in sexual activity.

Seven of the offences related to Fletcher arranging the abuse of children abroad.

Along with his prison sentence, Fletcher was issued with a sexual harm prevention order and ordered to sign the sex offenders register.

Det Con Smoult said the sentence "shows that offending like this will not be tolerated and that people like Fletcher are not welcome in our communities".

He said: "Fletcher knew he had no excuse and was left with no choice but to admit his guilt."

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A pervert loitered in bushes outside a primary school carrying out a sex act while children played.

Alemshah Amin hung around outside Sacred Heart Primary School, in Fenham, Newcastle, for several hours on two days in June this year, briefly interacting with a child on one occasion. On both occasions, he stayed until caught by staff.

When arrested he claimed he had just being going to the toilet despite the fact he could have walked to his home in just one minute. Anne Richardson, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court: "One two occasions he loitered in the vicinity of the school for several hours, hiding in bushes around the site and masturbating while looking into the school yard when children were playing.

"On both occasions he remained there until caught in the act by staff." He was arrested on the second occasion and interviewed by police.

Miss Richardson said: "He said, despite his home address being less than a minute's walk away, he had been caught short, desperate to use the lavatory. He then shook his penis to clean it and it became sore and he said he relieved the soreness by shaking it more with his hand."

Amin, 27, of Lotus Place, Fenham, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to two offences of outraging public decency. Because of time served on remand, he was given an 18-month community order with rehabilitation. He will also be subject to sex offender registration for five years and a sexual harm prevention order for the same period which bans him from waiting outside any school or educational facility for under-18s.

Recorder Richard Wright KC told him: "You have pleaded guilty to serious offences of outraging public decency. These are offences that involved you masturbating in pubic outside the Sacred Heart Primary School in this city.

"They were plainly sexual offences and you chose to commit them in the vicinity of that school quite deliberately, of that I am sure." The judge said alcohol consumption contributed to the offending but added: "There is also a sexual element to your behaviour which requires the public to be protected from you because I'm concerned that otherwise you may offending in a similar way in the future.

"These are offences that are so serious that, ordinarily, I would impose a prison sentence. However you have been remanded in custody for several months and you have served on remand a prison sentence approaching the length of any sentence I might impose."

Tony Cornberg, defending, said he has a learning disability and despite denials of the offence in a pre-sentence report, admits his guilt. He added: "He is isolated and has limited social skills."

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A pervert who filmed himself wearing lingerie while trying to have a sexual chat with a 12-year-old girl was actually talking to an undercover police officer.

Roy Drummond dressed in clothing that included a panty set, various coloured stockings, a pink corset and a baby doll nightie during a series of sickening online conversations over social media site Kik in October 2021. Newcastle Crown Court heard Drummond, who claimed to be a 19-year-old from Manchester, sent pictures and videos of himself dressed up and using a sex toy to the person he thought was a child.

But prosecutor Joe Hedworth told the court the fake profile had been set up by a covert police operative and the 12-year-old did not exist. Mr Hedworth said: "She said she was a girl aged 12. The defendant continued the
conversation and it was sexual from the off. He said 'girls in uniform are cute'."

The court heard the graphic chat went on for several days until Drummond was arrested. He denied having any sexual interest in children and said he got involved in the conversation through "stupidity".

Drummond, 35, of Condercum Road, Benwell, Newcastle, admitted attempting to have sexual communication with a child between October 7 and October 19, 2021. Recorder Abdul Iqbal sentenced him to 12 months, suspended for two years, with rehabilitation requirements and 100 hours unpaid work. Drummond has to sign the sex offenders register and abide by a sexual harm prevention order for ten years.

Recorder Iqbal told him: "You said you thought you were talking to an adult pretending to be a child. Whether that's true or not is debatable. It is clear you were communicating with someone who was telling you she was 12 and you were obtaining sexual gratification from explaining to her your own sexual interests."

Kate Barnes, defending, said Drummond has ADHD and is prone to "impulsivity and poor decision making processes".
Miss Barnes said Drummond poses a low risk, has fully co-operated with the authorities and can be managed safely in the community.

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A 15-year-old girl was raped by a stranger who offered to charge her phone for her.

The horrific attack happened just two days before the teen started her GCSE exams.

Warren Richardson, 19, was jailed for almost five years at Newcastle Crown Court last week after pleading guilty to rape. After his conviction the victim's mum has revealed the devastating impact the attack has had on her daughter's life.

The mum, who cannot be named to protect her daughter's identity, said: "It's had a massive impact on her. It's every parent's worst nightmare," reports Chronicle Live.

The attack happened on May 21 last year. The victim was in Newcastle City Centre after going to a birthday party in Jesmond when she realised her phone was dead, her mum said.

Richardson, who was 17 at the time, started talking to her. They went to a nearby fast food restaurant to ask to borrow a charger. But when this was unsuccessful Richardson offered to charge the victim's phone at his home, where he raped her.

When the teenager did not return home her mum called the police to report her missing.

"It's not her to not come home., and it wasn't like her not to answer," he mum said. Then the next morning she came back and told her sister what had happened.

Richardson, of Cross Parade in Elswick, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to rape in July. Last week he was sentenced to four years and 10 months in prison. He was also made subject to an indefinite restraining order and a 10 year Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Richardson must also sign onto the Sex Offenders' Register for life.

Det Cons David Ostle, who led the investigation for Northumbria Police, has praised the victim's bravery

He said: “This was an absolutely appalling offence and I am pleased that Warren Richardson has been convicted at court.

“This outcome would not have been possible without the amazing bravery of the victim, who along with her family have shown huge support and cooperation throughout this investigation.

“I sincerely hope that this outcome offers them some comfort, seeing Richardson behind bars as a result of his despicable actions. I also hope that the victim’s bravery can give others the confidence to come forward and speak to police."

However, the victim's mum said it would take her a long time to get over what happened.

"These should be the best years of her life. She should be enjoying herself and she's not," she said. "She just doesn't want him to do this to anyone else. That's why she went all the way with it."

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Paul Vickers, of Moreland Road in South Shields, was found guilty at Newcastle Crown Court of six child sex offences, including three counts of sexual assault of a child under the age of 13.

The 39-year-old denied the offences but following a five-day trial in June, he was found guilty by a jury.

The judge in the case remanded Vickers in custody until he is due to be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on Tuesday, October 31.

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A vile pervert caught distributing sickening child abuse images for a second time has been jailed.

In August 2021, Matthew Lumley was locked up for three years for distributing, making and possessing indecent images of children. He had more than 13,000 indecent images and had been sent some by a man showing his son being abused.

He was released from that sentence in February this year but despite being subject to a sexual harm prevention order, he was soon back offending in a similar way. He communicated with what turned out to be an undercover police officer who had set up profiles online, including on a Russian photograph sharing website on which users can upload sexual images of children.

year-old daughter and posted an email address, which Lumley contacted with a username including the phrase "loveboys1997".

The officer said he was interested in boys and girls aged from 0-10 and Lumley said he was the same and liked "crying and tying up". He went on to say he "loves torture and pain", adding "any age turns me on". Lumley also asked the officer if he could create a custom video for him including a child screaming.

Within a few days he was soliciting videos of the officers six-year-old daughter. Emma Dowling, prosecuting, said: "He described in detail what he would like to see."

Lumley, 26, of Kingston Park, Newcastle, went on to sent two category A videos to the officer, including of a two-year-old "tied up and gagged" and "in obvious pain and distress" being abused by a woman.

Miss Dowling said: "The conversation continued for a few more days, with the contents of the video discussed and the defendant suggesting he had videos of babies being raped. They continued to exchange grotesque sexual fantasies about the abuse and torture of children."

When he was arrested, police found 826 indecent images on his phone, including 307 of the most serious type, category A.

He pleaded guilty to distributing two indecent images of children to the undercover officer, two counts of breaching the sexual harm prevention order and three counts of making indecent images of children. He was jailed for three years with an extended licence period of a further five years. He continues to be subject to sex offender registration and a sexual harm prevention order.

Judge Tim Gittins said Lumley is a dangerous offender and told him: "They included images that can only be described as sexual torture and terror committed against those children of the most tender years, babies and toddlers."

The judge said while Lumley's autism might be a factor in his obsessive collecting of images and social isolation, it is not the sole or decisive behaviour in his offending. He added: "You remain an intelligent young man despite those difficulties.

"You attended mainstream school and college and gained significant qualifications, in one sense worryingly, in relation to ICT and cyber security. You remain deeply sexually preoccupied and preoccupied with underage children in a sexual way."

Matthew Purves, defending, said: "Most people would describe this as absolutely unimaginable offending when one looks through the descriptions given by the police officer who viewed the images.

"The defendant is trying to process his own behaviour but has to accept the only real mitigation is the fact he has pleaded guilty. All of the offences are online, there are no contact offences.

"He accepts he has a particular interest, something that has not been the case historically and there are routes of treatment and rehabilitation available."

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A sex offender has been locked up for 10 years after his victim bravely came forward to reports his crimes.

John Weeden, previously known as John Hawthorn, 56, of Elswick, Newcastle, came to Northumbria Police’s attention in 2020 after a woman came forward to report that as a child he had sexually assaulted her on several occasions. An investigation was launched, and Weeden was subsequently charged with three sexual offences.

He denied any guilt but was found guilty by a jury of his peers in July. And on Monday, a judge heard a powerful statement written by the victim, in which she spoke of her lifelong trust issues and the continued devastation this has brought her.

She said: “The events have left a scar on me and changed me as a person.” But looking to the future, she added: “I have finally got the justice I have waited for so long and I hope this man never gets the opportunity to ruin another child’s life, like he did to mine.”

Following her impassioned statement, a judge sentenced Weeden to 10 years behind bars. Detective Constable Lisa Herron, of Northumbria Police’s Safeguarding department, said: “I really am in awe of the victim’s courage.

"As a child, she was terrified into silence, and it took a lot of bravery for her to report and share the details of her abuse. But thanks to her strength and resilience, she saw her attacker charged, convicted and now sentenced for his vile crimes. I truly hope this sentence gives the survivor a sense of justice and comfort.”

She added: “I also hope that this shows others who have suffered non-recent abuse that it’s never too late for justice. You will be listened to, supported and we will do everything we can to ensure your abuser is put before a court.

“You’re not alone and you don’t deserve to suffer in silence while your abuser gets to go about their day-to-day life answering to no-one. We are always here.”

For support or more information on how to disclose sexual assault or rape, visit Northumbria Police’s website: Rape and sexual assault : Northumbria Police. To report any other type of historic abuse, contact police on 101 or report online via the force’s website.

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Joseph Stewart has been convicted following a trial at Newcastle Crown Court

A paedophile who sexually abused children has been jailed for 21 years after his victims bravely came forward to inform police of their ordeal.

Joseph Stewart abused one of the youngsters in the early 2000s, with the other victim abused after 2010.

The victims, who were young children at the time, realised what had happened to them as they grew into adults and informed Northumbria Police.

Officers immediately began an investigation into Stewart and arrested him.

In interview, the 56-year-old denied carrying out the attacks but was charged with five counts of indecent assault, one count of indecency with a child, one count of rape, one count of attempted rape and one count of sexual activity with a child.

He pleaded not guilty to all of the charges but was found guilty following a trial at Newcastle Crown Court in July and remanded in custody.

At the same court yesterday, Stewart, previously of Newcastle but most recently of Albion Gardens, Burnopfield, County Durham, was jailed for a total of 21 years.

Stewart was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order, sex offender registration and a restraining order.