Man jailed after sex abuse case heard at Durham Crown Court
Durham Crown Court heard Stephen Carr, 54, groped his victim and was seen masturbating in public on several occasions near her house. Kate Barnes, prosecuting, said Carr also sent lewd Whats App messages to the married woman, who was described as 'vulnerable', describing sordid acts he fantasised about carrying out. Stephen Carr (Image: Stephen Carr)She said the offending has left the woman fearful of leaving her own home.
Ms Barnes said: "In her victim personal statement she said she cries every day and she has lost confidence." The court heard Carr, of Changing Lives, Plawsworth, near Chester-le-Street, admitted five counts of sexual assault, two counts of committing acts that outrage public decency and one count of causing a person to engage in a sexual act without consent. The offences were committed over a four-month period from April to August in 2021.
Police were contacted at the end of September that year and Carr was arrested. The court was told Carr had been given a caution for gross indecency in 1999 and was jailed for 12 years in 2012 for the attempted rape of a young girl. Mitigating, Brian Mark said: "He has pleaded guilty and that took some courage.
"It does not just stop the victim from having to give evidence, which would suggest she was lying, it means that there is the possibility of rehabilitation. "There is an acceptance of what he has done when he has come out prison for much more serious offending. "He is remorseful for what he has done and he has not caused the victim any more suffering.
"The most important crucial matter is that he accepts his criminality." Mr Mark asked the court to consider suspending any custodial sentence imposed but Judge Howard Crowson said only an immediate period in custody was suitable and jailed Carr for two-and-a-half years. The judge said: "You have a poor history of sexual offending.
"You seem to have very few boundaries with regard to consent. "The impact on her was significant." The judge imposed a restraining order and Carr will also have to sign the sex offenders' register indefinitely.
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Judge Crowson said: "I will make a restraining order preventing you from contacting the complainant in this case directly or indirectly by any means whatsoever or attempting to do so.
"In the event of a chance encounter you are to remove yourself immediately.
"Breach that and there will be a certain prison sentence."