A teenager, Owen Wilson, wept in court after being found guilty of raping a young girl he encountered while consuming alcohol in a park in South Shields.
Owen Wilson, who is now 18 years old, smiled and wiped away tears as Judge Penny Moreland imposed a two-year suspended prison sentence on him at Newcastle Crown Court.
Additionally, Wilson, who resides in Grace Court, South Shields, is required to undertake 40 days of rehabilitation activities and complete 250 hours of unpaid work.
He was placed on the sex offenders register for a period of 10 years and subject to a 10-year restraining order.
On the afternoon of August 19, 2023, the court was informed that Wilson, who was 15 years old at the time, was intoxicated with friends at a park in South Shields.
The group initiated conversations with younger girls who were also present in the park during the afternoon.
The court was informed that the victim began to consume alcohol with the group; however, as the day progressed, she was left alone with Wilson.
The victim informed her friend the following day that Wilson had sexually assaulted her.
She subsequently informed a family member, who in turn contacted the police.
Wilson initially declined to comment during his interview with law enforcement personnel; however, he ultimately confessed to rape during a plea and trial preparation hearing.
Penny Moreland, the judge who sentenced Wilson, stated that she was obligated to impose the sentence most likely to have been imposed at the time of the offence, when Wilson was 15 years old.
Image Credit – Northumbria Police
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