Kelvin Graham, a 45-year-old man from Fawdon, Newcastle, has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for sexually abusing a vulnerable teenager. The court heard that Graham gave the girl tablets to facilitate his offending and warned her that 'something would happen' if she disclosed the abuse.
Details of the Abuse
The victim, who was underage at the time, described how Graham 'looked like a psychopath' and laughed eerily before the abuse. On one occasion, he held a knife to her throat and later gave her three small white tablets that made her hands shake. He then forced her to perform a sex act. When she tried to escape, he held her back and threatened her into silence.
Similar abuse occurred at least five times, including a sexual assault by penetration on the second occasion, despite her telling him to stop. The offences only came to light later, leading to an altercation between Graham and the victim's father.
Victim Impact
In a victim impact statement, the girl described the 'complex' damage caused. She said, 'Kelvin preyed upon me when he was an adult and I was a child. I was confused someone could exploit me in this way.' She suffered panic attacks, was diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety, and depression, and has self-harmed and attempted suicide multiple times. She added, 'After the assaults I felt dirty and used to spend ages scrubbing myself in the shower until my skin was red raw.'
Having to give evidence at trial, where she was branded a liar, was 'terrifying' for her.
Sentencing and Legal Proceedings
Graham denied the offences, but a jury at Newcastle Crown Court convicted him of assault by penetration and two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. Judge Penny Moreland sentenced him to 11 years in prison, with a lifetime sex offenders register requirement, a sexual harm prevention order, and a restraining order.
Judge Moreland told Graham, 'She was frightened to say anything. You had warned her not to say anything or something would happen to her... You have caused her serious psychological harm, you have robbed her of her childhood and teenage years.'
Defence and Background
David Callan, defending, said Graham went missing in the middle of the night and was 'walking between Ashington and Fawdon repeatedly' after the case first appeared in court. He noted that Graham had no previous tendencies to abuse children and had suffered bereavements, including his younger brother's death. Graham, described as reclusive, had a strong work ethic but stopped working in 2020 due to mental health problems.
Police Statement
Detective Constable Lisa Herron praised the victim's courage, stating, 'The fear abusers such as these distil into their victims is something which keeps that control over them... Not only did he commit horrendous abuse against a child but then has attempted to evade both accountability and justice by attempting to flee and making the victim-survivor re-live her experiences through a trial.' She called Graham 'both a coward and a child sex offender' and urged any other victims to come forward.
