KARL YOUNG SENTENCED TO OVER 25 YEARS FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN NEWCASTLE
A man identified as Karl Young has been sentenced to more than 25 years in prison after being convicted of multiple serious sexual offences involving children in Newcastle.The case highlights the bravery of the victims who, despite immense trauma, chose to come forward and report their abuse, ultimately leading to Young's arrest and prosecution.
Young, aged 33 and residing on St Marks Way in South Shields, was found to have committed heinous acts against two young children.
During the period of abuse, he employed manipulative tactics, including offering alcohol to his victims to lower their inhibitions.
In some instances, he also issued aggressive threats to ensure their silence and compliance, creating an environment of fear and coercion that made it difficult for the victims to seek help.
Both victims demonstrated remarkable courage by alerting those around them about Young’s misconduct.
Their disclosures prompted immediate action from concerned individuals, who then contacted Northumbria Police.
The law enforcement agency responded swiftly, and Young was arrested in December of the previous year.
The police investigation was led by specialist officers from the force’s safeguarding department, who meticulously gathered evidence and built a case against him.
Initially, Young denied any involvement in the offences.
However, after a comprehensive investigation, he was charged with a series of serious sexual crimes, including rape, assault by penetration, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and sexual assault.
The charges also included two counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and four counts of child rape.
Young appeared before Newcastle Crown Court on May 7, where he pleaded guilty to nine of the charges.
His plea marked a significant step in the pursuit of justice for the victims.
Following his guilty plea, he was remanded in custody as the court prepared for sentencing.
On the subsequent court hearing, the judge sentenced Young to a term of 25 years and six months in prison, with an additional year on licence.
The court also ordered that Young be placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life, reflecting the severity of his crimes.
Furthermore, he was handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order, restricting his future conduct and interactions to protect the public.
Leading the police investigation was Detective Constable Gavin James, who emphasized the calculated and predatory nature of Young’s actions.
In a statement following the sentencing, Det Con James praised the resilience of the victims, acknowledging their bravery in coming forward and reliving their painful experiences to ensure justice was served.
He stated, “Young is a calculated predator, who used alcohol and aggression to coerce his victims into sexual activity.
I would like to commend both of the survivors in this case for the immeasurable bravery they have shown throughout the whole process.
From coming forward and raising the alarm to those around them, and then having to re-live their pain speaking about Young’s horrific actions towards them.
Ultimately, their unwavering support has allowed us to bring a vile offender like Young to justice – and I hope the survivors and their loved ones are able to find some closure in today’s outcome knowing he is now behind bars.” Det Con James also issued a warning to others who might commit similar crimes, emphasizing that law enforcement agencies are committed to bringing offenders to justice.
He added, “I hope this sends a clear message to those who have committed these types of crimes – you won’t get away with them and we’ll do everything in our power to put dangerous offenders like Young before the courts.
Most importantly, this result is an example of what we can do when we work together to support survivors of sexual offences and hold their abusers to account.
If you’ve been a victim of sexual abuse, please know that we can help you – and we will listen to you.
Please come forward and report anything of concern today.”
