David Wilkinson 56

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A man has been jailed for almost two decades for abuse he committed more than 30 years ago.

David Wilkinson, now 56, initiated the abuse of the school-aged girl in the late 1980s when he was a teenager.

He raped and sexually assaulted the girl multiple times, including in the Newcastle area.

After living with the consequences of the abuse for most of her life, the victim bravery made a report to police in 2023.

In May last year, Wilkinson was charged in connection with the abuse.

Earlier this month, following a seven-day trial at Newcastle Crown Court, Wilkinson, of Wood Grove, Newcastle, was found guilty of 10 counts of non-recent child sex abuse.

The offences comprised of three counts of indecent assault and seven counts of rape – being that the offences occurred before the Sexual Offences Act was introduced in 2003.

On Friday (July 11), he returned to the same court where he was sentenced to 19 years’ imprisonment. He will also spend an extra year on licence as part of his extended sentence once he is released from custody.

Wilkinson will also spend the rest of his life on the Sex Offenders’ Register and was handed a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). The victim will also be protected by a lifelong restraining order.

Speaking after Wilkinson’s conviction, the victim shared these words:

“I’ve found writing this statement incredibly difficult. It has brought up so many emotions that I’ve been feeling and at times needed to bury due to the sexual abuse that happened to me when I was a child at the hands of David Wilkinson.

“I have had difficulty sleeping due to intrusive thoughts and flashbacks. I struggle to communicate with others about how I feel.

“Since the abuse, I have felt weak all my life. I don’t feel like I’ve achieved what I could’ve achieved in life. During and after the sexual abuse, my life spiralled.

“I had no respect for myself and was used to being treated like a piece of meat.”

She added:

“I believe if the abuse had not happened my life would have been so different, I feel I would have achieved more in life, I would have focused more at school and maintained healthy relationships with others and more importantly myself.

“David Wilkinson has committed horrific offences against me, and instead of admitting it and saving me a further ordeal of a trial, he watched as I was cross-examined and made to feel like I was on trial.

“He was a coward, and I feel like I have been so brave to stand up to him.

“I would like to thank my team for believing in me and bringing justice for me. I feel like I have belief in the justice system, and I have faith that the sentence given to David Wilkinson will reflect the impact that he has had on me and my life.”

Leading the case for Northumbria Police was Detective Constable Sarah Hails, from the Force’s Rape Investigation Team (RIT).

Speaking after the sentencing, she said: “I hope this case shows other people out there who may be hesitant to come forward that it’s never ever too late to make that report and look to have your abuser put before the courts.

“The victim struggled with the consequences of Wilkinson’s heinous crimes for most of her life – but bravely made the disclosure to us.

“Her voice has now been heard loud and clear – and it’s because of her that this predatory man is in prison.”

Det Con Hails added:

“No one should have to go through anything like this, and I'd urge anyone who has been a victim of any form of sexual offending to reach out, whether it happened today, yesterday, last year, or half a century ago.

“The clock never runs out on the support we can provide for you.”