A 40-year-old man who held down, choked, and raped a woman inside a South Tyneside home has been sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment at Newcastle Crown Court.
Shaun Graham, of Stafford Close, South Tyneside, appeared for sentence on Friday 2 October 2026. He had previously been convicted by a jury on Wednesday 30 September of rape, sexual assault, and non-fatal strangulation following a contested trial.
The court heard that the violent attack occurred at an address in South Tyneside. Graham carried out a prolonged assault in which he held the victim down against her will, throttled her neck, and subjected her to sexual assault before raping her. Throughout the attack, the complainant repeatedly stated “no” and attempted to resist, but Graham ignored her explicit lack of consent.
The survivor managed to escape the property and sought immediate refuge with a friend, detailing the assault before police were contacted. Northumbria Police launched an investigation and arrested Graham shortly afterwards. When questioned under caution by detectives, Graham denied all wrongdoing, claiming the sexual interaction was consensual.
Under the provisions of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992, all victims of sexual offences are entitled to lifelong statutory anonymity from the moment an allegation is made. It is a criminal offence to publish, broadcast, or disclose any details, including names, addresses, or photographs, that could lead to the public identification of the complainant across any print, broadcast, digital, or social media outlet.
Following a complex inquiry led by Northumbria Police’s Safeguarding Department, the Crown Prosecution Service authorised charges against Graham in January 2025. At trial, the jury rejected Graham’s claims and found him guilty of:
- One count of rape
- One count of sexual assault
- One count of non-fatal strangulation
In her Victim Personal Statement, the survivor detailed the profound and enduring consequences of the assault:
“During what happened to me that night, there were moments when I genuinely believed I might not make it out alive. I cannot properly put into words what it feels like to believe that you might die. In those moments, all I could think about were my family and the possibility that I might never see them again.
“I was violated in the most inhumane way, and that carries a shame that I struggle to put into words. My body did not feel like my own that night, and even now, during flashbacks and nightmares, I feel disconnected from my own body.
“You did not hurt me for just one night. I have lived with the consequences every day since. The consequences of your actions have lasted for years already. You have taken my sparkle away from me. I am still here, and I am trying to find those parts of myself again. What I do know is that what you did to me has changed the course of my life without my consent, just as my choice was taken from me that night.”
The judge sentenced Graham to an immediate determinate custodial term of 10 years’ imprisonment. Under standard UK sentencing legislation governing serious sexual offences carrying sentences of this length, Graham will be required to serve at least two-thirds of the sentence in closed prison custody before becoming eligible to apply to the Parole Board for conditional release on licence under probation supervision.
Alongside the custodial term, the court ordered that Graham be placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life under the provisions of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
Officer in the case Detective Constable Kerry Kane praised the survivor’s resolve:
“Shaun Graham subjected this woman to a vile assault which, in her own words, has completely changed her life.
“My first thoughts always are with her – she has shown such courage from that initial report to police all the way through to the sentencing hearing today. Hopefully the knowledge that Graham is going to spend a substantial stint behind bars can allow her to move forward with her life.
“Det Con Kane added: ‘This case is a stark reminder to those who do not understand that no means no – lack of consent means you are a rapist. Day-in-day out we put these people before the courts and bring them to justice – all on our mission to protecting the vulnerable people in our communities.'”
Image – Anonymous Artist Impression
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