A man described as a dangerous predator has been jailed for 18 years after grooming and raping two schoolgirls at an industrial estate in Teesside. Paul Black, 36, admitted 28 offences, including eight counts of rape, at Teesside Crown Court.
Grooming and Abuse Details
Black, who was not known to his underage victims before the offending, added one of the children on Snapchat and offered her money for sexual acts. The court heard he groomed both youngsters on numerous occasions, picking them up in his car and driving them to an industrial estate where he raped them.
He also requested sexual pictures from his victims and paid them. The offending came to light when one victim informed an adult who alerted police.
Court Proceedings and Victim Impact
On Tuesday, November 3, the court heard how Black offered one girl £200 for sex or £60 for a sex act. He called both girls derogatory names, and when one asked him to stop he was annoyed, saying he was paying her so she had to do it.
Analysis of his devices revealed indecent images of children: 35 category A, 16 category B, and more than 60 category C. In police interview, Black said some images were sent to him by girls he spoke to online.
Shaun Dodds, prosecuting, read victim impact statements. One girl said she struggled to sleep and felt paranoid, adding: "I feel this man targeted me." The other wrote: "I thought it was my fault and I was to blame. I understand now I wasn't... I hope because this has concluded I will be able to carry on with my life and feel normal again."
Sentencing and Risk Assessment
Black, of Wordsworth Crescent, Gateshead, had no previous convictions but three cautions, including indecent exposure in 2004 and sexual assault after grabbing a jogger's buttocks. Aggravating features included lying about his age, claiming to be in his 20s, and using a fake name.
Judge Richard Clews labelled Black a dangerous offender and handed him an 18-year sentence: 15 years in custody plus three years on extended licence. He told Black: "You took advantage of them in a dreadful way and did so repeatedly," adding there was "a significant risk of serious harm to other members of the public, mainly young females."
Black will be on the Sex Offenders' Register for life and subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Restraining orders prevent him contacting the victims.
Detective Constable Sean Hobbs, from Cleveland Police's Protecting Vulnerable People team, said Black used Snapchat to groom young girls for his own sexual gratification, enticing them with promises of money. He said the girls showed courage in opening up, which helped secure the prison sentence, adding: "I hope it provides some reassurance that they were both listened to, supported and that Black has now been held accountable for his actions."
