STUART KILPATRICK SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN NEWTON AYCLIFFE AND DURHAM

In June 2020, Stuart Andrew Kilpatrick, a man from Newton Aycliffe, was sentenced to over 17 years in prison for a series of heinous sexual offences committed against children as young as eight years old. The case was heard at Durham Crown Court, which convened in Newcastle, where the court was presented with a disturbing account of Kilpatrick’s long history of abuse spanning more than a decade.

Prosecutor Shaun Dodds outlined that Kilpatrick, aged 57 at the time, had admitted to a total of 28 charges related to his offending. These charges included sexual assault, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and actual sexual activity with a minor. The court heard that Kilpatrick’s arrest was triggered when one of his victims, who had since become an adult, reported the abuse to the police last year. This revelation prompted the authorities to take action against him.

During his arrest and booking process, Kilpatrick made a chilling remark to officers, stating, “I always knew it would come out, I had skeletons in my closet.” The court was told that he appeared via a video link from HMP Durham, visibly shaken and sobbing as details of his disturbing crimes were read out. Kilpatrick’s previous address was listed as Greenlee Garth, Newton Aycliffe.

Victims’ statements painted a harrowing picture of the lasting trauma inflicted upon them. One victim expressed her ongoing distress, saying, “I have always been repulsed, I tend to panic and throw up when I think about it.” She described how the abuse had severely impacted her mental health, leading to anxiety, depression, and difficulties with trust and intimacy in her adult life. Another victim shared her painful memories, revealing that “at times the memories and flashbacks were so bad I have self-harmed, at 14 to 15 years-old I attempted suicide. I couldn’t tell anyone how I felt, so trapped and disgusted.”

It was also revealed that Kilpatrick had a prior conviction for indecent assault dating back to 1977, when he was just 14 years old. This history underscored a pattern of disturbing behaviour from a young age.

Robin Patton, representing Kilpatrick in mitigation, highlighted that the defendant had made full admissions during police interviews and court proceedings, which was considered ‘highly unusual’ in cases of this nature. He suggested that Kilpatrick’s abusive actions were linked to the ‘gross abuse’ he himself had suffered during childhood. Patton described Kilpatrick’s upbringing as ‘wretched,’ noting that he was in social services care from the age of 13. He explained that, at that time, social services lacked the resources and protocols to provide adequate support or counselling for victims of abuse, which might have contributed to Kilpatrick’s own troubled development.

Furthermore, Patton emphasized that Kilpatrick’s offences had a profound emotional toll on him, leading to a serious suicide attempt. The court was advised that Kilpatrick must engage with prison mental health services to confront and address his personal demons.

Judge James Adkin delivered a stern judgment, stating that Kilpatrick’s crimes had caused ‘highly emotionally damaging’ effects on his victims, inflicting misery and shaping their adult lives in profound ways. The judge sentenced Kilpatrick to 17 years and four months in prison, with an additional two-year extended licence period. He was also subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a lifelong restraining order that prohibits any contact with the victims, ensuring their ongoing safety and protection from further harm.