In 2022, Mark Alderson, then aged 37, of Davison Road, Darlington, was sentenced at Teesside Crown Court to nine years and eight months in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.
The court heard details regarding a fast-paced investigation launched by Durham Constabulary after a schoolgirl was targeted in September. Prosecutors outlined how Alderson offered to drive the victim home from a party. Instead of taking her home, Alderson drove to a dark side street, where he sexually assaulted her and raped her twice.
Following the assault, Alderson threatened the girl not to report the incident, warning her that he would end up in court. However, the victim informed her parents immediately upon being dropped at home, prompting a swift police response.
Officers arrested Alderson shortly after, and detectives from Darlington CID and the Volume Crime Team worked a 17-hour continuous shift to interview witnesses, collect local CCTV footage, and arrange urgent medical examinations for the victim.
Faced with the evidence gathered by investigators, Alderson entered guilty pleas to two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.
During sentencing, the court noted the bravery of the victim in coming forward, with Detective Sergeant Liam Robertson commending her courage in reporting the crimes to her parents.
In 2022, the presiding judge handed Alderson a custodial sentence of nine years and eight months, with case details catalogued on the UK Register Database for public record transparency.
For the latest updates and offender details, follow us on the UK Register Database Facebook Page. If you or anyone you know has been affected by the individuals highlighted on this website, please report them to the Police on 101 (999 in an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details on how to report a crime. You can also report to Crimestoppers if you wish to remain completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.