February 2019 Teenager who raped young girl went to Spain to work as children’s holiday entertainer A man in his late teens accused of the rape of a much younger girl was planning to seek work abroad entertaining children, a court heard. Durham Crown Court was told James Milburn, 19, did a stint working in Spain and on his return let it be known that he intended to go back to work as a children’s holiday rep. But, it was at this time that the mother of his victim reported to police what her daughter had confided in her about his actions. Shaun Dodds, prosecuting, said knowing he was being investigated, he urged a family member to take him to Leeds/Bradford Airport, from where he flew to Palma, in Majorca. But members of his family subsequently urged him to return, which he did, and he was arrested after he landed on an inbound flight, on arrival back at the airport. Mr Dodds said Milburn made no comment to police questions, but, after the case was sent to the crown court, he admitted a charge of rape. He later also admitted two further counts of sexual assault. A victim statement read by the mother of the girl said she felt that Milburn had robbed her daughter of her childhood. Judge Jonathan Carroll told Milburn, of The Spinny, Washington, that he “profoundly damaged” his victim, putting his sexual desires first, with, “no thought” for her well-being. Imposing a six-year and nine month custodial sentence, he made Milburn subject to registration as a sex offender for life. Judge Carroll also put in place restrictions on Milburn under the terms of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a restraining order, both “indefinitely”.