JARROW MAN STEPHEN CARLING SENTENCED TO EIGHT YEARS FOR TEEN'S RAPE

In August 2012, Stephen Carling, a 50-year-old man from Jarrow, was sentenced to eight years in prison after being convicted of raping a teenage girl. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender for life and was barred from working with children. Although Carling denied one count of rape, the jury at Newcastle Crown Court found him guilty. The court was told that the assault took place at Carling's home on Abbey Drive, Jarrow, where he raped the girl while she was using his computer just before the attack. Judge Guy Whitburn sentenced him to eight years and stated, "You clearly abused her by raping her. She had been using your computer just prior to the attack. There is little that can be said in mitigation. I hope you will undertake the sexual offenders programme, and that it will be of some use to you."