HILARIO MENDONCA FROM BYKER SENTENCED FOR RAPE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT IN NEWCASTLE

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the Byker community and the wider Newcastle area, Hilario Mendonca was convicted of a series of heinous crimes involving a woman in her own home. The incident unfolded in the early hours of September 2019, when Mendonca forcefully entered the victim’s residence, unleashing a brutal assault that left her in a state of terror and physical violation.

According to court proceedings, Mendonca, aged 30 and known to reside on Raby Street in Byker, appeared at the woman’s home during the dead of night. His arrival was uninvited and marked by violence, as he forcibly broke into her house. Neighbors, alarmed by blood-curdling screams emanating from the property, promptly contacted emergency services. The police responded swiftly, arriving to find the woman in a state of extreme distress, her screams echoing the horror she had endured.

Prosecutor Paul Currer detailed the harrowing events, explaining that the woman, in a state of panic, attempted to escape when she realized Mendonca was at her door. She managed to retrieve her phone from the kitchen in an effort to call for help, but Mendonca saw her and recognized her presence inside the house. He then ran from the back lane to the front street, confronting her as she tried to leave. Despite her pleas for him to leave her alone, Mendonca physically prevented her from exiting, pushing her back inside the house.

Once inside, Mendonca, who was naked at the time, told her he wanted to have sex. He then removed his trousers and began attacking her, an act that left her screaming loudly for help. The neighbors, hearing her blood-curdling cries, called the police, which led to Mendonca’s arrest. Body-worn camera footage captured the woman’s state during the attack, a scene described by the judge as “terrible to watch,” illustrating her sheer terror and the severity of her ordeal.

During police interviews, Mendonca denied any wrongdoing, maintaining his innocence. The victim, in a heartfelt victim impact statement read aloud in court, described feeling “violated” in an “abhorrent” manner. She expressed her ongoing fear, stating that after Mendonca was bailed, she was left “living in fear” and “constantly looking over my shoulder in fear of seeing him.” Her worst fears materialized when Mendonca broke his bail conditions, and she recounted that her fears were confirmed when he returned to her home.

In her statement, she hoped that Mendonca would accept responsibility for the damage caused during his time in prison and that he would “never again perpetrate such a hateful crime.” Mendonca was found guilty of seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. The court heard that he had previously been arrested in early January after the woman reported the initial sex attacks, but he was released on bail with strict conditions not to contact her or visit her home. Despite these restrictions, she remained in constant fear, and her worst nightmares came true when Mendonca violated his bail.

Judge Sarah Mallett described Mendonca as a dangerous individual, sentencing him to 20 years in prison, with an additional six years on extended licence. She also ordered that Mendonca be placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely and issued a restraining order to protect the victim from further contact. The judge emphasized Mendonca’s lack of remorse, stating, “The pre-sentence report concludes, as do I, that you present a high risk of causing serious harm to the victim. I’ve come to the conclusion you are dangerous.”

Defence lawyer Nick Cartmell argued that Mendonca still denies any involvement, attributing his actions to alcohol and drug use at the time, as well as immaturity and naivety. He described Mendonca’s behavior as out of character. However, the court’s focus remained on the severity of the crimes and the threat Mendonca poses to society.

Following the sentencing, Detective Constable John Bentley commented on Mendonca’s lack of remorse, stating, “Mendonca has shown no remorse for what he has done and made this victim suffer the further trauma of enduring a trial. Thankfully, the jury has seen this man for the danger he is to women, and the judge has reflected that in the sentencing today. It will never be enough for the victim to recover from all of this, but I hope it is a small step in being able to move on with her life.”