JEFFREY ERRINGTON OF BISHOP AUCKLAND SENTENCED TO 24 YEARS FOR PREDATORY PAEDOPHILIA

In a harrowing case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Bishop Auckland, Jeffrey Errington has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term of 24 years after being found guilty of a series of heinous crimes committed over a span of more than twenty years. The court heard how Errington, aged 54 and residing on Garden Street in Newfield, Bishop Auckland, systematically preyed on young boys, leaving a devastating impact on their lives.

During the sentencing at Newcastle Crown Court, Judge Sarah Mallett described the extent of the damage caused by Errington’s actions. She stated, “Your offending has left a trail of destruction through those young lives. We have not sadly been able to listen to one of the victims who took his own life, and I have no doubt your offending contributed in some degree – not solely – to his decision to do that. Nor was he the only one who felt like taking that course. The effects of your offending were long-lasting, far-reaching, and profound.”

One of the victims, who is unable to be named due to legal restrictions, expressed relief at the sentence, saying, “It’s a massive weight off my shoulders. Not just for me but for all the other boys too, three of whom are close friends – one of them unfortunately is not with us anymore. We all miss him terribly. This sentence is just as good as life. He stole all of our lives. He absolutely destroyed our lives. It’s about time his life was destroyed too.”

Details of the case revealed that a joint investigation conducted by Durham Constabulary and Northumbria Police led to Errington’s arrest and subsequent charges. He faced a total of 33 counts, including indecent assault, rape of a child, sexual activity with a child, sexual assault, attempted rape, and inciting indecent assault. Errington denied all allegations and stood trial at Newcastle Crown Court, where a jury unanimously convicted him on all counts on the Monday prior to sentencing.

Prosecutor Ian West described how Errington allegedly used a combination of threats and bribes to silence his victims. One young man recounted how he turned to drugs and alcohol as a way to cope with the trauma, revealing, “I haven’t enough fingers on my hands to describe how many times I have tried to commit suicide.” Another victim shared the lasting emotional scars, saying, “It is a burden you have to bear once it has happened. And I didn’t want to cause anyone else any pain which is why I never wanted anyone else to know what happened.” A third victim described the enduring psychological impact, stating, “It won’t go away. It just hangs around all the time like a scar on the brain and will do until the day I die.”

Judge Mallett ordered that Errington must serve a minimum of 16 years before being eligible for parole. Additionally, he will be subject to an extended seven-year licence period. As part of his sentence, Errington was ordered to register as a sex offender for life and was issued a restraining order preventing him from contacting any of his victims, ensuring their ongoing safety and protection from further harm.