REDCAR MAN JAILED FOR ABUSING TEENAGE GIRL OVER 15 YEARS AGO

Jan Newcombe, aged 52, has been sentenced to a decade behind bars following his conviction on two counts of rape. The assaults occurred over 15 years ago when he targeted a teenage girl while she was sleeping and vulnerable, exploiting her state of intoxication from alcohol and drugs. The court heard that Newcombe waited until she was disoriented before assaulting her. It was revealed that the victim took 11 years to report the incidents, battling ongoing trauma and mental health struggles. She described feeling trapped by fear and only recently realizing she was a victim of abuse due to her vulnerable condition. Evidence showed that Newcombe supplied the victim with money to buy drugs like ecstasy and MDMA, and he was known to spend weekends under the influence. Despite lacking any prior criminal record, the jury unanimously found him guilty. Testimony from his long-term employer and his daughter, who still supported him, was presented in his defense. The judge noted that Newcombe deliberately took advantage of the victim’s vulnerable state and planned the attacks, funding her to prevent her from resisting. He was sentenced to ten years in prison, with additional orders including an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and a restraining order to prevent contact with the victim. The court expressed hope that the sentence would help bring some closure to the victim, who suffered significant emotional and physical trauma, including an almost fatal suicide attempt. Detective Sergeant Lexi Edmonds commended the victim’s bravery in coming forward and underscored the importance of victims reporting abuse, regardless of how much time has passed.