CURTIS CRUICKSHANK'S SHOCKING CRIMES IN NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE: CHILD ABUSER SENTENCED TO 13.5 YEARS

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through Newcastle upon Tyne, Curtis Cruickshank, aged 21, has been sentenced to a substantial prison term of 13 and a half years for a series of heinous crimes involving a young girl. The court heard that Cruickshank, who has no fixed address, engaged in a pattern of predatory behavior that culminated in serious sexual offenses against a 15-year-old girl, despite being under a strict sexual risk order (SRO).

According to the evidence presented at Newcastle Crown Court, Cruickshank had previously been subject to an SRO issued in 2021, which explicitly prohibited him from contacting children online due to prior sexual offending. Despite this, he repeatedly breached the order, with the court noting that he had violated it on at least 11 occasions. These breaches included deleting his internet search history and refusing to surrender his phone for police inspection. Prosecutor David Povall detailed that Cruickshank’s latest contact with the girl occurred in November 2023, when he initiated communication via WhatsApp.

During these conversations, despite being informed that the girl was only 15, Cruickshank quickly turned the dialogue sexual in nature. He encouraged her to watch explicit videos of himself and even to record herself in sexual acts. The court was told that within days, Cruickshank had arranged to meet the girl multiple times around Newcastle upon Tyne. These meetings resulted in a series of sexual encounters that the girl described as rough and painful, with Cruickshank engaging in multiple acts of sexual violence.

One of these meetings took place at Cruickshank’s residence, but the pair was spotted by a CCTV operator who, aware of Cruickshank’s ongoing SRO violations, promptly alerted the police. When officers arrived at the scene, Cruickshank and the girl had already fled, with Cruickshank allegedly smuggling her out of the property to evade arrest, the court heard. The police investigation was further prompted by the girl’s concern over her health; she confided in her father that she feared she might be pregnant. Although she was not pregnant, medical tests revealed she had contracted chlamydia, a sexually transmitted infection that Cruickshank had transmitted to her.

The girl’s statement, read aloud in court, revealed her feelings of vulnerability and her lack of awareness regarding the severity of what had happened. She described Cruickshank as someone who preyed upon her vulnerability, emphasizing that she had been an “easy target.” The court also heard that Cruickshank had engaged in sexual grooming, further aggravating his culpability.

Judge Stephen Earl described Cruickshank as a “dangerous” offender who posed a “very high risk of serious harm” to children and women. When questioned about his actions, Cruickshank attempted to shift blame onto the victim, a move that the judge condemned. The court found that Cruickshank’s behavior demonstrated a blatant disregard for the law and the safety of others.

In addition to his prison sentence, Cruickshank was ordered to serve a further six years on extended licence after his release. He was also subjected to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and mandated to register as a sex offender for life. Detective Constable Claire Ashurst of Northumbria Police commented on the case, highlighting Cruickshank’s repeated offending and his persistent sexual interest in children. She described his conduct as brazen and noted that he had continually and unapologetically ignored court orders, describing his actions as “repulsive.”