CONNOR ATKINS SENTENCED IN STANLEY FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES INVOLVING 13-YEAR-OLDS

In December 2017, a serious case of sexual misconduct involving a young man from Stanley, County Durham, culminated in a significant prison sentence. Connor Atkins, aged 21 at the time of sentencing, was convicted of engaging in sexual activities with two girls, both of whom were only 13 years old. The offences occurred when Atkins was 19, and the case was brought before Durham Crown Court, where Judge Christopher Prince presided over the proceedings.

According to court records, Atkins admitted to six charges related to his inappropriate conduct, which took place during a two-day period. These incidents occurred while he was residing on Poplar Street in Stanley. The court heard that the case came to light after a teacher at the girls' school was informed of the allegations, prompting police involvement and subsequent investigations.

Initially, Atkins pleaded guilty to the six charges, but in a surprising turn of events, he later attempted to retract his guilty pleas. This move was met with rejection by the judge, who confirmed that the guilty pleas would stand, and the charges would be upheld. The court was informed that one of the victims believed she “loved” Atkins, which influenced her decision not to submit a victim statement.

During the sentencing, Judge Christopher Prince expressed his disapproval of Atkins' actions and attitude. He stated, “In the letter handed to your counsel, you say you feel ashamed and you take full responsibility.” However, the judge added, “Well, you might feel embarrassed by what you did, but I don’t feel you have any sense of shame, as you tried to evade responsibility, by asking to withdraw your guilty pleas, to try to escape answering for what you did.”

The judge emphasized the impact of Atkins' actions on the victims, noting that their anxiety was renewed at the prospect of giving evidence in court, which caused unnecessary delays in the proceedings. Prosecutor Paul Reid outlined that the offences took place over two days, with one charge involving one girl and five charges involving the other.

Judge Prince sentenced Atkins to nine years in prison, highlighting the gravity of the offences. He also imposed a sexual harm prevention order that will last for ten years and mandated that Atkins register as a sex offender indefinitely. The court's decision underscores the seriousness with which such offences are treated and the importance of protecting vulnerable minors from predatory behavior.