DAVID HUNTER FROM GATESHEAD AND SOUTH SHIELDS SENTENCED TO 18 YEARS FOR CHILD RAPE IN SOUTH TYNESIDE

In a case that has shocked the local communities of South Shields and Gateshead, David Hunter, aged 43, of Fell Court in Gateshead, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term after being found guilty of multiple heinous crimes involving a young girl in South Tyneside. The crimes spanned over a three-year period, during which Hunter subjected the victim to a series of sexual assaults and rapes, causing significant trauma and fear.

According to court proceedings at Newcastle Crown Court, the victim, whose identity remains protected for legal reasons, was only 14 years old at the time of the initial attack. Over the course of several years, Hunter committed four separate rapes and two additional sexual assaults against her. The court heard that these offenses took place between 1999 and 2002, a period marked by Hunter’s repeated predatory behavior.

Judge Beatrice Bolton, presiding over the case, delivered a stern sentence, emphasizing the gravity of Hunter’s actions. She stated, “You still protest your innocence. I don’t punish you for that. I sentence you on the basis of the jury’s verdict. You repeatedly raped a young girl. You raped her and sexually assaulted her after you became aware that she had been abused before but no complaint had been made. She was very afraid of you.”

Hunter’s criminal history includes two prior convictions for sexual offenses. His previous conviction was in 1999, when he was convicted of attacking a 17-year-old girl, for which he served a prison sentence. These prior convictions underscored a pattern of predatory behavior that the court took into account during sentencing.

As a result of his latest crimes, Hunter was sentenced to 18 years in prison for the rape charges. Additionally, he received a five-year sentence for indecent assault and a three-year sentence for assault occasioning actual bodily harm, with all sentences to run concurrently. The court also ordered Hunter to sign the sex offenders’ register for life, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities after his release. The verdict and sentence reflect the seriousness with which the justice system treats crimes involving minors and sexual violence, especially when committed by repeat offenders like Hunter.