NATHAN RUSTED AND WILLIAM HUNT SENTENCED FOR TYNESIDE PARK RAPE PLOT IN NEWCASTLE AND WHITLEY BAY

In a disturbing case that has shocked the Tyneside community, two men, Nathan Rusted and William Hunt, have been sentenced to 10 years in prison each for their involvement in a heinous assault on a vulnerable 14-year-old girl. The incident took place in Walker Park, Newcastle, and the offenders' actions have left a lasting scar on the victim and her family.

According to court proceedings, the young girl, who was only 14 at the time, had approached strangers near a train station in Newcastle, seeking help to buy alcohol. Instead of assistance, she was met with malevolence. Rusted, then 18, and Hunt, 20, took advantage of her distress by offering her a half-litre bottle of vodka, which she nearly consumed. The men then encouraged her to smoke Exodus Damnation, a potent legal high that has since been banned, along with giving her cider. Their sinister plan was to intoxicate her to the point of helplessness, with the intent of sexually assaulting her.

Witnesses and evidence revealed that after consuming the alcohol and drugs, the girl was left staggering, swerving, and speaking incoherently. The two men then led her to a secluded area within Walker Park, where Rusted committed the assault. Before Hunt could take his turn, the girl began to vomit blood and pleaded for an ambulance. The men, posing as Good Samaritans, called emergency services, but their true intentions were only revealed later during hospital examinations.

Rusted, who was residing on Rothbury Terrace, Heaton, Newcastle, was convicted of conspiracy to rape and rape after a jury trial. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison and was also ordered to comply with a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order and to register as a sex offender. Hunt, of no fixed address, was similarly convicted of conspiracy to rape and received the same sentence, along with the same court orders. During the sentencing, Judge Amanda Rippon highlighted the differences between the two offenders, noting that Rusted, at just 16 at the time of the crime, was more sophisticated in his approach, whereas Hunt was described as having a lower IQ.

The court heard that the trauma inflicted on the victim was profound. She relived the ordeal during her testimony in 2015, which led to her being admitted to a psychiatric unit after attempting to take her own life. Her emotional testimony included a statement where she told the jurors, “they should be ashamed, they have ruined my life.” The girl’s bravery in facing her attackers and recounting her experience was described as “astounding” by the judge.

Her mother also delivered a heartfelt impact statement, describing her daughter as “broken” and emphasizing the destructive nature of such crimes. She expressed her anguish, stating, “This crime destroys lives. I wish I could take away her suffering. I have to do the best I can, while watching helpless.” The mother condemned the offenders for forcing her daughter to relive the horror during court proceedings, asserting that their lack of remorse made them dangerous to society.

Judge Rippon detailed the events of that day, revealing that the victim had consumed the vodka in under an hour before the offenders administered the legal high and cider. The court described how the pair’s plan was to make her so intoxicated that she would be unable to resist their sexual advances. The court also noted that the victim was left so incapacitated that she could barely walk, and that the offenders discussed who would take their turn in assaulting her. The ambulance staff found her utterly incoherent and screaming when they arrived, underscoring the severity of her condition.

Rusted’s criminal record was also discussed, highlighting a history of previous offenses. Meanwhile, Hunt’s mental health will be assessed before his final sentencing, which is scheduled to follow. The case has brought to light the dangers posed by such predators and the devastating impact on victims, prompting calls for increased vigilance and protective measures in the community.