A young man broke down in tears in the courtroom as he received his sentence for sexually assaulting a girl he had met while socializing in a park in South Shields.
Owen Wilson, now 18 years old, wiped away tears while Judge Penny Moreland imposed a two-year suspended prison sentence on him at Newcastle Crown Court.
In addition to the suspended sentence, Wilson, residing in Grace Court, South Shields, must complete 250 hours of unpaid work and attend 40 days of rehabilitation activities. He has been issued a 10-year restraining order and registered on the sex offenders register for a decade.
According to court proceedings, Wilson, who was 15 at the time of the incident, was with friends consuming alcohol at a park in South Shields on the afternoon of August 19, 2023.
The group engaged with younger girls in the park during the afternoon, as detailed by Chronicle Live.
The victim had started drinking with the group but eventually found herself alone with Wilson as the day progressed. The following day, she confided in her friend that Wilson had sexually assaulted her.
Subsequently, she informed a family member, who contacted the authorities. During police questioning, Wilson opted not to answer questions but later admitted guilt to the charge of rape during a plea hearing.
When delivering the sentence, Judge Penny Moreland stated that she had to consider the penalties applicable at the time of the offense when Wilson was a minor.