Locations
Dunston Road, Dunston, Gateshead, Tyne And Wear, NE11
Description
A sexual predator who raped two women after bringing them home to his flat has been locked up for more than 11 years.
James Wilkinson, now 27, met both the women through social media and had arranged to meet up with them in person during May 2021.
On May 9 that year, Wilkinson brought his first victim back to his flat in the Wideopen area, after the pair had met up for the first time and visited a shop together.
The woman – who was 20 at the time and had not expected to go into his home – felt concerned, sharing her location and messaging family members while she was out.
Wilkinson then encouraged the woman to go into his bedroom to watch TV, before proceeding to rape her.
And on May 24, a similar incident occurred whereby Wilkinson had arranged to meet the second woman for a date, after exchanging messages online.
When the then 18-year-old arrived at his flat, Wilkinson insisted she watched TV with him before they went out for food as they had discussed. He then proceeded to rape her twice.
Both terrified victims left his address shortly after each of the incidents occurred and later reported what had happened to police.
Wilkinson, of Dunston Road in Gateshead, was arrested and subsequently charged with three counts of rape.
He continued to deny his guilt, claiming the sex on both occasions was consensual, and boasted that he would often meet girls through his social media accounts.
The case initially went to trial at Newcastle Crown Court, however Wilkinson was later found guilty on three offences of rape.
He appeared before Durham Crown Court on Monday, June 3, where a judge sentenced him to 11 years and six months in prison.
He was also handed a restraining order to forbid contact with both women, and ordered to sign the Sex Offender Register indefinitely.