A Medomsley paedophile, Neil Thompson, has been incarcerated following the courageous decision of his victim to report the sexual abuse she endured.
Neil Thompson, currently 59 years old, perpetrated abuse on his victim decades prior when she was a minor.
Neil Thompson intimidated the victim, asserting that she would not be believed if she disclosed the events that occurred.
She courageously informed Northumbria Police, prompting the Safeguarding Department to initiate a comprehensive inquiry against Neil Thompson.
Neil Thompson was subsequently charged with multiple charges, to which he entered a plea of not guilty.
Following a trial at Newcastle Crown Court which began in April, Neil Thompson was convicted of four counts of indecent assault and five counts of gross indecency.
After being convicted, Neil Thompson was remanded in custody. He was back before the same court on Tuesday, October 15, where he was jailed for a total of eight-and-a-half years.
As well as being jailed, Neil Thompson, of Pleasant View, Medomsley, County Durham, was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order and will remain on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.
The officer in charge of the case, Constable Joanne Lythgoe, of Northumbria Police, said: “First and foremost, I’d like to praise the victim for her bravery.
“She has shown great courage in coming forward to report the appalling abuse she suffered and that has helped us in building a case against Neil Thompson.
Constable Lythgoe added: “As a Force, we want the public to be aware that protecting and supporting vulnerable victims is our top priority and we will continue to work incredibly hard to put offenders such as Neil Thompson before the courts.
“If you have been a victim – regardless of when the abuse took place – we would encourage you to take that first step and come forward. You will be listened to, and you will be supported.”
To access support or find out more information on how to disclose sexual assault or rape, visit Northumbria Police’s website at https://www.northumbria.police.uk/ro/report/rsa/alpha-v1/advice/rape-sexual-assault-and-other-sexual-offences/rape-sexual-assault-support/
To report any other type of non-recent abuse, send the Force a direct message on social media, or use the live chat function on the Force website.
For those unable to contact police via those ways, call 101.
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.