Hartlepool man jailed for rape and sexual assault

A 25-year-old man named Callum Barclay has been found guilty of multiple severe sexual offenses in Hartlepool. The court proceedings revealed that Barclay approached a woman along with two male friends while they were using an ATM in Hartlepool town centre. He used threats and violence against the two men, then dragged the woman into a nearby alley where she was assaulted and raped during the early hours of the morning. The woman’s companions alerted the police, who located her shortly afterward. A jury convicted Barclay of rape and two counts of sexual assault, as well as assaulting one of the men, who was struck during the attack. He has now been sentenced to a term of 15 years in prison. Detective Constable Andrew Morland, who conducted the investigation, commented, “Barclay poses a significant danger to the community, and it’s positive that he will be incarcerated for an extended period. The victim’s life has been drastically affected, leaving her fearful of leaving home and struggling with sleep issues. With Barclay now behind bars, she can hopefully begin the difficult process of recovery.”