Sexual predator who abused girl as she slept in her bedroom thrown behind bars

A sexual predator who would abuse a young victim as she slept has been jailed for 18 years.

Stephen James Raun began his campaign of abuse on his young victim back in 2016 when he would visit her home, enter her bedroom and begin sexually assaulting her.

In utter fear of Raun, his victim would pretend to be asleep but this would not stop the vile attacks on her.

The victim bravely spoke out in 2020 and an investigation was launched by Northumbria Police's Safeguarding Department.

The 33-year-old paedophile was arrested and questioned by detectives but denied all the allegations put to him. However, he was subsequently charged and the case was sent for trial.

Raun tried to spin his web of lies in court but was found guilty of four counts of sexual assault by a jury and one count of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Last month, on June 24, he was sentenced to 18 years behind bars. Raun, of Bentinck Terrace, was also handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will have to sign the sex offenders' register for life.

Lead detective Keith Harbottle hopes the sentence gives a sense of closure for the victim.

Det Con Harbottle said: "The assault carried out by Raun has truly tarnished this victim's childhood and I commend her bravery for speaking out.

"I hope the outcome not only gives the victim a sense of closure but encourages others who have been subjected to sexual abuse to come forward and report it."