Chris Bond, from Ashington, was jailed after Northumbria Police investigated claims dating back to the 1990s

He bribed her and threatened her to keep quiet, and it wasn’t until years later in 2018 that she made the brave decision to go to the police and reveal her past trauma.

Following a lengthy investigation by specialist officers from Northumbria Police, Bond, of Lincroft, Ashington, has been charged with ten offences, including four counts of rape, four counts of indecency with a child and two counts of inciting a child to commit sexual acts.

Read more: 21-year-old man charged with serious sexual assault at Jubilee Park in Spennymoor

He pleaded not guilty to any wrongdoing and the case was referred to Newcastle Crown Court.

But a jury found him guilty of all ten crimes on August 15 of this year.

On Friday (October 21), a judge sentenced Bond to 20 years in prison at the same court.

Following the sentencing, Northumbria Police’s Detective Constable Dan Anderson hopes the outcome will give others the strength to come forward and reminded victims of such crimes that it is “never too late” to report historic crimes.

He said: “I welcome this sentence and hope it gives our brave survivor a sense of relief and comfort that Bond will spend his remaining years in prison and removed from the rest of society.

“I also hope that this sentence will help show that it is possible to get justice for the recent crimes.

“We say it a lot, but it’s true – it’s never too late to speak up. No one should have to suffer in silence and we will support you in every way we can.’

He added: “My advice to anyone reading this story who can sadly relate to the cycle of abuse of our survivors, recent or recent, is to open up to anyone and remember that your local police are here for you.”

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