JOHN BELL FROM NEWCASTLE JAILED FOR 17 YEARS FOR REPEATEDLY RAPING SIX-YEAR-OLD BOY

In July 2017, John Bell, a 30-year-old mechanic from Throckley, Newcastle, was sentenced to 17 years in prison after being convicted of repeatedly raping a six-year-old boy. Bell was found guilty of six counts of rape following a trial, despite maintaining his innocence. The court heard that Bell had subjected the young victim to a series of distressing and painful sexual assaults, which have left the child severely psychologically traumatized.

A judge at Newcastle Crown Court, Judge Edward Bindloss, described Bell’s conduct, stating, “During the rapes you told him not to tell his mother about what was happening. (The boy) said he was scared, shocked and worried about what happened. This was a course of conduct where you abused him on a regular basis. You physically hurt him when you raped him and you told him to bite the pillow. I’m satisfied you groomed him. You gave him sweets and took him on motorbike trips. You groomed him, acting for your own sexual gratification. You knew he had been raped by another male. You went on to rape him knowing he had been abused before. The psychological effects of what happened to him at your hands will likely be very harmful for a long time.”

The court highlighted the lasting impact on the victim, noting that since the attacks, the boy has begun to self-harm, scratching himself until he bleeds, tearing his clothes, damaging his toys, and receiving ongoing counseling. The judge observed that the child is socially isolated and reluctant to play with other children, indicating deep emotional and psychological scars. "He is isolated and didn’t want to play with other children. It’s quite clear he has been deeply affected by what happened to him," he added.

Prosecutor Jo Kidd emphasized the severity of the psychological harm, stating, “There is evidence of exceptional psychological harm to him.” As part of his sentence, Bell was also ordered to be subject to a sexual harm prevention order to protect others from potential future offenses.