NEWCASTLE SEX OFFENDER STEVE HINCHAN SENTENCED TO PRISON

A convicted sex offender from Newcastle, Steve Hinchan, has been sentenced to seven and a half years in prison following a series of assaults committed in the 1990s. His victim, who has carried the emotional scars of the abuse for decades, chose to report the crimes to police after summoning the courage to come forward. In response, Northumbria Police’s Safeguarding Department initiated an investigation in 2021.

Hinchan, 56, voluntarily attended a police station where he was questioned and initially denied the allegations. Later that year, he faced five counts of indecent assault, which predated the enactment of the Sexual Offences Act in 2003. During his trial at Newcastle Crown Court, he maintained his innocence, but in November, the jury convicted him of all charges.

On Friday, Hinchan, of Grosvenor Court, Newcastle, was sentenced to a seven-and-a-half-year prison term. Additionally, he will remain on the sex offenders register for life.

Following his sentencing, the victim expressed her feelings about the case: "The term ‘historical’ does not accurately describe the abuse I endured, and I do not identify with the label ‘survivor.’ Both terms suggest that the abuse is confined to my past, but for me, the fear and anxiety remain an everyday reality.

"I feel perpetually trapped in states of fight, flight, and freeze, unable to fully escape the shadow of what happened. Since the day the abuse began, I have felt as though I’ve been infected with an incurable disease, living in shame and secrecy, unable to share the full extent of the abuse with anyone.

"His words, that no-one would believe me, imprisoned me in a pit of silence for almost 30 years. I have now had to accept that no amount of therapy, medication or time will erase what he did to me."

"What was taken from me has altered the course of my life irreversibly. No sentence can undo this damage, but I hope this process will provide some finality, allowing me to begin a new chapter," she added.

Detective Sergeant Barbara Callaghan, who led the investigation, said: "I hope this case shows other people out there who may be hesitant to come forward that it’s never too late to seek justice.

"The victim battled with the consequences of Hinchan’s horrific crimes for most of her life, but bravely disclosed what happened to police, allowing us to take action. Her voice has now been heard loud and clear, and because of her, a dangerous man is in prison.

"No-one should have to go through anything like this, and I’d urge anyone who has been a victim of any form of sexual offending to reach out, whether it happened yesterday or decades ago. There is no time limit on support, we’re here for you."