Latest Offenders Northumberland

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Jonathan Sweet, of Blyth, was caught with hundreds of child abuse images on his mobile phone

A pervert who had indecent images of children as young as six months has walked free from court.

Jonathan Sweet had hundreds of sickening pictures and videos of youngsters on his mobile phone when police seized it. Newcastle Crown Court heard police found the material in an app on his phone after devices were seized on October 21 2021.

Neil Pallister, prosecuting, said: "After information was received, officers attended his home address. Two devices were seized and examined but nothing was found on them. Officers then attended his place of work and seized his mobile phone. When that was examined it was found to contain indecent images of children."

The court heard there were 162 pictures and 69 movies of the most serious, category A, kind, 103 pictures and 44 movies in category B and 272 pictures and 13 movies in category C. The children were aged between six months and 13 years.

Sweet, 40, of Rowley Street, Blyth, Northumberland, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to three offences of making indecent images of children. Judge Stephen Earl sentenced him to 18 months suspended for two years with a requirement he complete a sex offenders treatment programme. He must also sign the sex offenders register for ten years and was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order.

The judge said the children in the images "were and continue to be victimised while those images remain and people are watching them".

Sweet told probation officers he didn't download the images but said no one else had access to his phone. Jennifer Coxon, defending, said: "He fully accepts the prosecution case and maintains his guilty plea."

She added: "The images were found in an inaccessible place which means they were either deleted or created by the software. He is a hard-working young man and has a long-term relationship and no children."

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A "dangerous" Blyth paedophile sexually assaulted a child in front of their parent and was later found in possession of their underwear.

Jamie Topham, who has a "significant history of sexual offending", sexually assaulted the child in September, last year, while the youngster's parent was in the same room. When the stunned parent saw what was happening, they took a photograph for evidence and later reported him to police.

When the 42-year-old was arrested, police found three indecent images on his mobile phone, which he'd taken himself. The child's underwear was also found in his room.

Topham, of Gladstone Street, Blyth, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court, via link from HMP Durham, to be sentenced for sexual assault of a child under the age of 13, breach of a sexual offence prevention order, and taking indecent images of children. He pleaded guilty to the charges.

The court heard that Topham had previous convictions for child sex offences and had been given a three year community order after being found in possession of hundreds of indecent images. He was later found in possession of more images and was given a suspended sentence and made subject of a 10 year sexual offence prevention order - which was active at the time of his offending last year.

Annie Richardson, prosecuting, said Topham had become acquainted with a family, who had no idea about his sexual offence history and convictions.

At some point in September, last year, Topham had drank up to seven cans of lager and was with members of the family. The court heard he was "somewhat drunk". Ms Richardson said that Topham then put his arm around a child, which the parent - who was in the same room - found "unusual".

Topham then sexually assaulted the child, leading the shocked parent to quickly take a photograph of what was happening for evidence. Topham was then kicked out of the house and was arrested that night.

Ms Richardson said: "His room was searched and child's underwear was found, which belonged to the child. Police also seized his mobile phone and examined it." Officers discovered three indecent images of children, which Topham had taken himself on the phone.

Mr Fish, defending Topham, said: "The defendant is realistic and accepts that he will receive an immediate custodial sentence. He has demonstrated a significant level of insight and acknowledges he has a problem. He is not a defendant who is in denial." Mr Fish added that Topham has "a lot of distorted thinking and attitudes".

Sentencing Topham, Judge Adams, said he had a "significant history of sexual offending". He said: "You admit a sexual attraction to children and in my view you are clearly dangerous."

The judge gave Topham an extended prison sentence 98 months - 50 months custodial with an extension period of 48 months. An indefinite sexual harm prevention order was also made and he will be on the sex offender's register indefinitely.

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Mark Robinson had downloaded over 600 illegal images of children and had only been released from prison for similar crimes last year

A paedophile who downloaded 680 indecent images and videos of children, and shared some of them with others, has been jailed.

Mark Robinson, 40, was caught with 119 category A images - the most serious type; 105 category B and 456 category C illegal images of children. He shared 16 of them with other adults via the messenger service Kik and through Snapchat.

On Tuesday, prosecutor Annelise Haugstad told Teesside Crown Court that Robinson had been released from prison for similar crimes last year, and under the terms of his sexual harm prevention order, he had a police protection officer checking his online devices.

The court heard that in July 2020, the officer went to Robinson's workplace and seized his iPhone 7. The illegal images and videos were found on his phone, and showed children who had been drugged and some of whom "were in obvious distress".

Police IT specialists also found that he had created aliases to use on social media accounts without notifying the police. Robinson had created profiles under the names "Callum 818" and "Callum Read". He had also installed software on his phone which encrypted the data stored.

Robinson, of HMP Northumberland, pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children; the distribution of indecent images of children; three counts of failing to comply with sex offender notification requirements and one breach of a sexual harm prevention order.

The court heard that he has four convictions for 35 previous offences - all of them involved child sex crimes. In August 2020, Robinson was jailed for 40 months for making illegal images of children.

Kelleigh Lodge, defending, told the court that her client had started an online sex offender treatment programme, but he was unable to continue this once he was jailed in 2020. Ms Lodge said that prison was "not a very pleasant experience" for Robinson, who "has certainly learnt his lesson and has tried to seek help for his offending".

But Judge Jonathan Carroll told Robinson that his iPhone showed "a significant breach of the measures that control the risk you pose to the public and to children, in particular. You accessed the Kik messenger service and were in regular communication with other people with the same sexual obsessions towards children."

The judge said that a pre-sentence report on Robinson had found that he is a "high risk" to children. Robinson was jailed for four-years and six-months.

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William Shotton, 86, of Berwick, was found guilty of sexual activity with a child following a trial

A teenage boy was lured into a pensioner's home with the promise of a Christmas gift then subjected to a sex attack by the naked pervert.

William Shotton left a note on his front door telling the the boy, who was under 16, he had something for him and asking him to knock. When the lad knocked, Shotton open the door while standing behind it and popping his head around. He invited him in but once inside, with the door shut, he saw Shotton was completely naked.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the 86-year-old then sexually touched the boy over his clothing before he was able to escape. Now widower Shotton, never in trouble before, has been given a suspended prison sentence after a jury convicted him of sexual activity with a child, which he continues to deny.

In a victim impact statement, the boy said: "On the day it happened I remember feeling so shocked it was almost as if i couldn't quite believe what had just happened. I felt ashamed and embarrassed, especially when I had to tell my parents. It was the first time since I was a small child I really cried. I felt I had let my parents down by being in that position.

"I felt so guilty and directed all of this to the people who cared and were trying to help me. My school work was affected and I now find it difficult to trust other people. I now avoid the area of Berwick if I'm out and avoid going there."

The court heard the offence happened in January 2020. The victim saw a note on Shotton's door suggesting he had a Christmas card and cash and he drew a heart at the bottom of it. Having been let in, the door was closed and the lad was standing in the passageway as Shotton went to get the promised items from another room.

Sentencing him, Judge Paul Sloan QC said: "As you made your way there, he realised you were completely naked. On your return to the passageway you asked how old he was and he told you. Having handed over the card, he turned and went towards the front door. The locking mechanism was difficult to operate and he had trouble opening it.

"You came up to him from behind and slipped your hand on to the back of his thigh and to his bottom, over his clothing and asked if he had ever w*****. You moved your other hand under his genitals and squeezed them over his clothing."

The boy managed to get the door open and escape. Judge Sloan added: "There was a degree of planning, you having lured him into your home, placing him in an extremely vulnerable situation."

Shotton, of West Street, Berwick, Northumberland, was sentenced to six months suspended for two years with a four month curfew. He was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order and must register as a sex offender, both for seven years.

Mark Styles, defending, says Shotton continues to deny the offence. He added: "He is not in the best of health and this has caused him a great deal of turmoil. It would be a crushing blow to send a man of his age and infirmity into a custodial environment. He would simply not cope."

The court heard he had served in the army and had a good work ethic.

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Jonathon Blacklock sprayed offensive graffiti about the victim around a Northumberland village, sent her abusive messages, left nasty notes at her home, slashed her car tyres and dumped rubbish on her drive

A jealous ex intent on causing maximum humiliation to his former partner embarked on a sinister stalking campaign, which involved showing sexual images to her boss and boyfriend.

Jonathon Blacklock had a brief relationship with the victim in 2020 and took exception when it ended.

So much so, the obsessed 50-year-old set out on an "appalling sequence of actions to inflict harm and humiliation" upon the woman, Newcastle Crown Court was told.

Over a two-month period, Blacklock sprayed offensive graffiti about her around a Northumberland village, sent abusive texts, left nasty notes at her home, slashed her tyres and dumped rubbish at the end of her drive.

He also showed intimate sexual photos of her to her boss and partner, prosecutors said.

During the course of the stalking, Blacklock mindlessly slashed the tyres of 10 other vehicles, whose owner's had nothing to do with him or his ex.

His actions left the victim feeling suicidal and contemplating leaving her job and moving house, the court heard.

Blacklock, of Rimside View, in Longframlington, Northumberland, has now been spared jail after he pleaded guilty to stalking, two counts of disclosing private sexual photographs and 12 counts of criminal damage.

Giving him a 14-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, Judge Edward Bindloss said: "You undertook an appalling sequence of actions, which inflicted harm and humiliation upon her - stalking, disclosing sexual images and criminal damage to her vehicle.

"In addition, on January 22, you went on a mindless spree of criminal damage against 10 other cars by putting a knife into the car tyres and creating 10 victims, who had nothing to do with anything."

The judge added: "The stalking was over two months, although you resurrected it for a weekend. You sprayed graffiti calling her a s**t and a s**g. You sent abusive texts, left notes in her garden, left underwear at her partner's address."

The court heard that Blacklock and the victim broke up in September 2020 and his stalking campaign started soon after.

He began by spraying the abusive graffiti around Longframlington and close to the woman's home before approaching her partner at a garden centre and showing him a sexual photo of her.

He also showed the same picture to her boss.

In the weeks that followed, the victim received a number of voicemails from Blacklock calling her a "f****g slag" and abusive texts.

Omar Ahmed, prosecuting, said, in November 2020, the woman was told by her neighbour that she'd seen a man scattering multiple pieces of paper around her garden.

Mr Ahmed continued: "When the complainant looked at what she'd been given by the neighbour, she saw each piece of paper referred to her in abusive terms, either as a s**g or a w***e.

"That same day [her partner] found female underwear had been left at his front door."

The court heard that Blacklock then left notes on the new boyfriend's doorstep referencing sexual activity that had taken place between him and the victim.

Blacklock then went on to dump rubbish at the end of the woman's driveway and left a brick with "trash for trash" written on it, Mr Ahmed said.

He'd also slashed the tyres of her car and put grass up its exhaust.

Blacklock's behaviour stopped for a while until January 2021 when he caused 337.75-worth of damage to the victim's partner's van.

Mr Ahmed added: "Not satisfied with just the damage caused to his van, he went on to attack nine other cars in the surrounding streets. Each of the vehicles had one or two tyres punctured with a sharp instrument. The total cost across all the victims was 750."

Blacklock was eventually arrested but claimed her hadn't harassed the woman and had acted out of a "desire to hurt her".

In a statement, she said she'd had suicidal thoughts, had changed her route to work and had contemplated leaving her job and moving house.

The court was told that Blacklock, who has eight offences on his record, was suffering from mental health issues at the time but had since sought help.

Richard Bloomfield, defending, said: "He's not been in any trouble since his arrest. Before his arrest, he was offending at a rapid pace. I think he can be rehabilitated, so the sentence can be suspended."

Blacklock was also made subject of a two-month curfew between 9pm and 6am and a restraining order, banning him from contacting the victim or her partner.

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Austin Rickerby, of Blyth, admitted sexual communication with a child and indecent images offences

A married dad who paid a schoolgirl to meet him and asked for a photograph of her feet had vile child abuse images on his devices.

Austin Rickerby had joined a website using the moniker "mystical gentleman' looking to meet adults for sex but one person he communicated with turned out to be just 14.

Undeterred, he continued to communicate sexually with her and met her three times although no sexual activity is said to have taken place.

When police examined various devices seized from his home in Blyth, Northumberland, they found he had downloaded dozens of indecent images and appeared to have catalogued them according to the ages of those featured.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the offences came to light after police had welfare concerns for the 14-year-old.

She had joined the website and one of the men she had communicated with was the profile being run by Rickerby.

The girl had initially purported to be 18 but then went on to say she was 16 and then 14 at different stages.

Police went to Rickerby's home in August 2018 and indecent images of children aged between 6 and 17 were found on various devices.

He had also carried out Google searches for "pre teen cartoons" and "you tube paedo", the court heard.

A WhatsApp conversation with the victim was also recovered, in which he indicated "it made no difference to him if she was 14 or 15" and she said she was 14.

Nick Adlington, prosecuting, said: "He continued to communicate with her and received a number of pictures from her and had a sexual conversation.

"He asked if she would participate in a foot fetish. He asked for a picture of her feet.

"He met her three times."

Rickerby pleaded guilty to sexual communication with a child, three counts of making indecent images of a child, possessing extreme pornography and possessing prohibited images.

The court heard there were 70 of the most serious, category A images, 23 category B, 93 category C, 15 extreme pornography images and 23 prohibited images.

Rickerby claimed to police he had ordered adult DVDs from a newspaper and later realised some contained indecent images and said he intended to hand them in to police but they arrested him before he had chance.

He also claimed he was "interested in animation" and had looked at the cartoon material without realising they were illegal.

The court heard the illegal material was found on multiple devices, including his work laptop and his wife's computer.

The indecent images were in folders marked "5-6" and "8-12" and Mr Adlington said: "This was consistent with the estimated ages of the children, the clear inference is he has catalogued them and used a name corresponding with the age of the children being abused."

Rickerby, 43, of John Street, Blyth, was sentenced to 12 months suspended for 18 months with a three month curfew and 500 costs. He will be subject to sex offender registration for 10 years and a sexual harm prevention order for five years.

Recorder Carl Gumsley told him: "You have a good job, a family, a child, no issues with money or substances and it would be difficult for many people to understand what on earth led you to get involved in these matters.

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A pervert has been jailed after trying to meet a schoolgirl for sexual activity.

Liam Williamson made contact with a profile called Laurie on a dating app called Skout and was told she was 14, rather than 18 as advertised.

Despite this, he engaged in sexual chat with her and went on to arrange to meet her at McDonald's in Blyth.

The Laurie profile was actually being run by vigilante group Guardians of the North, who were waiting to confront Williamson and rang the police.

Now the 28-year-old, of Langley Avenue, Blyth, Northumberland, who has some additional learning needs, has been locked up for 13 months at Newcastle Crown Court for attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming.

Omar Ahmad, prosecuting, said Williamson contacted the profile in May 2019 and the chat moved onto WhatApp.

Mr Ahmad said: "The defendant, on multiple occasions, suggested to Laurie she should go to his house in Blyth, telling her to get the bus and he would meet her at the bus-stop and sent her a picture of bus times.

"He acknowledged she was underage and he would get into trouble for touching her and said 'I would not touch you unless you wanted to be touched'."

He also said: "I could show you how to touch yourself but don't tell your mam or anyone, okay?"

He asked her to send him pictures in her bra and knickers and of her genitals and then arranged to meet her.

When arrested, he said he would not have touched her unless she wanted him to.

As well as the prison sentence, Williamson, who has no previous convictions will be subject to sex offender registration and a sexual harm prevention order for ten years.

Peter Schofield, defending, said Williamson is vulnerable and had an appropriate adult with him when interviewed by police.

He added: "When he became involved in this offending he was at an all time low and had recently lost his employment.

"He worked for two-and-a-half years in a hotel and is not workshy.

"He was isolated and the reality is what happened here is he let the situation spiral out of control when he should have known better, he being the adult.

"Custody fills him with dread, he is very worried and concerned about the effect custody will have on him. He will be vulnerable in custody."

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Police have praised the bravery of two victims after the man who raped them was jailed.

Jakub Bondalski was convicted of a number of sex offences after his victims came forward to report what had happened.

This first victim told officers she had been raped by him in late 2019 and an investigation was launched.

During this time, a further victim also came forward to report she had been subjected to multiple rapes, naming Bondalski as the offender.

When questioned, the 20 year-old denied all allegations put to him, but was charged with a string of sexual offences.

Bondalski, of Roslin Park, Bedlington, stood trial at Newcastle Crown Court in November last year where a jury found him guilty of five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.

Last Tuesday (January 18) he was handed a nine-year sentence at the same court.

And lead investigators, Detective Constable Nick Heywood and Detective Constable Laura O'Neil, have praised the bravery of the victims who spoke out against him.

Det Con Heywood said: "Jakub Bondalski is a vile predator and it is thanks to the immense bravery of the victims that he is now behind bars. He has shown no remorse throughout this case.

"I not only hope this gives the victims a sense of justice but also hope it encourages others who have been subjected to such offences to speak out.

"I'd urge you to report it to police it's never too late. We will listen, we will support you and we are committed to bringing offenders to justice."

Bondalski will also have to sign the Sex Offenders' Register indefinitely.

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Taylor Rowland, of Cramlington, branded himself a 'monstrous person' and 'despicable' after admitting carrying out the repeated sex attacks

A monstrous rapist who carried out repeated sex attacks and suggested ways for his victim to kill herself has been jailed for more than 17 years.

Taylor Rowland subjected his victim to a campaign of rape and used violence in some of the offences.

Newcastle Crown Court heard she said she thought he deliberately hurt her and believed he "enjoyed making me suffer".

We reported previously how Rowland, 28, of Cateran Way, Cramlington, Northumberland, had admitted eight counts of rape.

He has now been locked up for 17 years and eight months and made subject to an indefinite restraining order and indefinite sex offender registration by Judge Stephen Earl.

When arrested and quizzed about his offending, Rowland made full admissions and described himself as a "monstrous person" and said his behaviour had been "despicable".

The victim said some of the rapes were violent, including holding her down and punching her.

Alec Burns, prosecuting, said: "This is a campaign of rape. She said he was enjoying making her suffer."

Mr Burns added: "He suggested ways to kill herself - jumping from the Tyne Bridge and telling her to make sure she did it over the road."

When interviewed by police, he said he was "deeply ashamed" of what he had done and admitted incidents which the victim had not mentioned.

Mr Burns said: "He described himself as a monstrous person, having hurt her no end and her not deserving it.

"Looking back he said he realised how despicable he had been, that he had been monstrous and she deserved none of it."

The victim read an impact statement in court outlining the effect the offending has had and saying she didn't think she would ever "truly heal".

Gavin Doig, defending, said: "He fully accepts how monstrously he behaved towards her.

"The defendant showed unusual candour with the police. It's most unusual for a defendant to make such a clean breast of his offending.

"He suffers from a personality disorder and has done since mid adolescence. He has a narcissistic personality disorder and puts his needs ahead of everything else.

"He has come to court prepared for a lengthy period of custody having bravely admitted his responsibility and fronted up about his behaviour.

"He has grown up now and has to pay the price for his behaviour in the past and is ready to do that."

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Police have praised the brave victims who brought a sexual predator to justice.

Kieran Kindley has been convicted of preying on four girls aged between 13 and 17, after carrying out the attacks in the Ashington area last year.

The 20-year-old denied all the allegations put to him but on Friday (September 24) was found guilty of two counts of rape and six counts of sexual assault following a 10-day trial at Newcastle Crown Court.

Speaking after the trial, Detective Constables Dan Anderson and Emma Hooker, who led the investigation, praised the bravery of the victims.

Det Cons Anderson said : “Kieran Kindley is a sexual predator and paedophile, who preyed on teenagers for his own sexual gratification.

“These brave victims came forward to police and I hope they feel a sense of justice.

“I would urge anyone who has been subjected to such attacks to always report it. We are here to help."

Kindley of Lynn Street, Blyth, has been remanded in custody and will be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court in December.

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Christopher Carey used social media apps and platforms to detail the things he wanted them to do.

The 43-year-old, from Bedlington, Northumberland, was arrested as the people he had been contacting were in fact police officers.

He pleaded guilty to a number of sexual offences and was sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court.

Carey thought he had befriended three girls, aged 12 and 13, between January and May this year, Northumbria Police said.

'Continued to offend'

He began by sharing non-explicit selfies and messages before changing the tone of conversations and describing how he wanted to "kiss and cuddle" the youngsters, as well as give details of sexual acts he wanted them to perform.

Carey, of Elmfield Court, was sentenced on Monday having previously admitted inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual acts, four counts of engaging in sexual communication with a child and breaching a sexual offences prevention order which had been issued in 2017.

Commenting after the sentencing, Det Insp Rachel Lewis said Carey had been "completely undeterred" by the 10-year order preventing him engaging with youngsters in such a way and "continued to offend".

She added the strong evidence presented to the court meant he had no choice but to plead guilty.

Carey must also sign the sex offenders register for life and was given a lifetime sexual harm prevention order.

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A sexual predator who raped his sleeping victim has been jailed.

Joshua Robson raped his victim in October 2018 while she slept and when she woke up in pain he pretended to be asleep.

But the 20 year-old victim bravely reported the incident to police straight away and an investigation was launched by Northumbria Police's Safeguarding unit.

Robson, 23, was arrested and denied the allegation but a jury at Newcastle Crown Court saw through his lies and was found guilty of one count of rape on Friday, July 31.

On Friday, August 27, he was sentenced to five and a half years at Teesside Crown Court.

Detective Constable Catherine Burns, who led the investigation, praised the bravery of the victim and hopes it will give other victims the courage to report.

Det Con Burns said: "I really commend the bravery of the victim as she has been so strong throughout this investigation.

"Robson took advantage of a situation for his own sexual gratification and has shown no remorse for what he has done. Now he faces the consequences of his actions.

"I hope this sends a strong message that any sexual contact that is not consensual is a crime. No one should be subjected to something they do not consent to and if you have been a victim of such an attack, I would urge you to come forward to police.

“I know this conviction will give the victim a sense of justice and hope she can begin to heal after suffering significantly as a result of this attack.”

Robson of Esher Place, Cramlington will now also have to sign the sex offenders' register for life.

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Police have praised the victims of a predatory pervert after he was convicted of sexually assaulting two women.

Raymond Finn preyed on his adult victims as he worked as a festive entertainer in December 2018.

Finn, who played the role of Santa Clause, was immediately dismissed from the job and he was reported to police.

An investigation was launched by Northumbria Police's safeguarding unit and Finn was arrested.

The 71-year-old denied the allegations but in May a jury at Newcastle Crown Court convicted him of three counts of sexual assault.

The court was told Finn had ‘smacked the bum’ of one victim pushed his groin into her. He then tried to pull his body against the second victim.

Yesterday (Wednesday), he was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for 18 months.

Detective Constable Frank Cox, leading the investigation, hoped the conviction would give some closure to the victims and warned that this behaviour is unacceptable.

Det Con Cox said: "Finn is a predator who thought it was acceptable to sexually touch women without their consent. It is simply not acceptable and we will take action to put such offenders before the courts.

“At no point has Finn shown any remorse for what he has done. But with thanks to the victims for speaking out, he has been convicted of his actions."

Finn, of Brentwood Avenue, Newbiggin by the Sea, was also handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and will also have to sign the Sex Offender's Register for a period of seven years.

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A pensioner who subjected a young girl to a campaign of rape which left her traumatised for life has been jailed for 23 years.

John Gillis, 81, arrogantly thought he had got away with the despicable abuse he carried out many years ago.

But justice has finally caught up with him and he is now likely to die in prison as he was told he must serve two-thirds of the 23 years behind bars.

As Gillis, known as Jack, was locked up at Newcastle Crown Court, his victim said he will have to carry the shame of being a paedophile "for the rest of your pathetic life".

The woman, who was just seven at the time, said: "He was like a beast on the prowl and I was his prey.

"I felt worthless and have tried to commit suicide several times as I felt I couldn't live with the shame of what he did."

She added: "Jack, where you are today, because of your arrogance, you believed yourself invincible but you have been proved wrong and justice has been met.

"You have to carry the brand paedophile for the rest of your life.

"May you languish in prison for the rest of your pathetic life

Gillis, of Plessey Road, Blyth, Northumberland, was convicted after a trial in May of six counts of rape, three of them when the victim was under 13, and two of indecent assault.

Judge Tim Gittins told him: "You vilely abused her, raping her repeatedly despite the obvious distress and pain you knew you were causing her."

When the victim tried to tell Gillis' mother what he had done, when she was 15, she was dismissed and denounced as a liar, the court heard.

Judge Gittins said Gillis did everything he could to create the impression she was making it up.

He added: "You arrogantly dismissed her complaint and, frankly, dismissed her as a human being.

"There has been no shame from you, no contrition.

"Even when cornered in cross-examination, you still sought to blame her, telling the court she was coming on to you."

Judge Gittins said the truth is now out as a result of the victim's courage.

He added: "You were a paedophile and a serial rapist of her and she is a survivor but at an almost catastrophic cost to almost every aspect of her life.

"You sought to say she was vindictive when in fact it was the other way around.

"You were clearly a dangerous offender as a young adult."

As well as the prison sentence, Gillis will be on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Phil Gibbs, defending, said: "He may well spend the rest of his life in prison. He is an elderly man.

"It's a difficult age to find himself in prison. Every day will be difficult.

"He has always been active and his first few weeks of enforced idleness has been a punishment for him."

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A "dangerous" paedophile teacher who tricked young teenage boys into filming themselves performing sex acts has been jailed for 17 years.

Dean Davidson, 38, admitted 18 sexual offences over 10 years, including possession of indecent images of children, online exploitation of young teenagers and indecently touching boys.

The defendant, of Brockwood Court, Ashington, Northumberland, who taught in a number of schools in the North East of England, "posed as a good-looking blonde girl" online, one of his victims said.

In other cases he used a male alter-ego, depending on the sexuality of his young victims, Newcastle Crown Court was told.

The disgraced defendant held his head in his hands during the lengthy sentencing hearing, during which statements from 27 victims were heard.

Andrew Epsley, prosecuting, said Davidson was "a dangerous offender" who tricked some of his victims, now adults, after contacting them on social media.

In some cases, he posed as a sexually adventurous older girl, and cajoled them into performing sexual acts on camera.

Davidson, without their knowledge, made recordings of those videos, the court heard.

One told the court he had remained in contact for years with what he thought was a woman, but which was actually Davidson.

The man only realised the deception when detectives approached him and showed him video of himself as a boy aged around 13 performing sex acts.

Officers had recovered the video from Davidson's electronic devices.

The victim said: "I had been enticed by who I thought was a girl showing me attention at a very early age.

"Over the years it had been casual, friendly, on occasions flirtatious and sexual.

"I feel deceived and misled."

Another victim said he felt anxious in public in case Davidson had shared videos of him as a young teen, adding he felt "violated".

And another said he recalled making friends online with that he thought was a girl who asked him to do "weird things - stuff I would never dream of doing as an adult".

David Comb, defending, said Davidson was "ashamed and upset" by his conduct.

He added: "He genuinely enjoyed his work and he had a commitment to it, but he was also a confused, isolated and closeted young man who had been unable to establish or maintain healthy relationships with adults."

Judge Sarah Mallett sentenced him to serve 17 years in jail, with a six-year extended period.

Referring to his victims, she said: "Several of them have described their lives, as a result, are in ruins."