Joseph Stewart, of Burnopfield, was convicted of nine offences, including rape and attempted rape, against two girls
A vile sneering paedophile who left two young girls traumatised by sexually abusing them has been jailed for 21 years.
Joseph Stewart repeatedly shook his head, smirked and sought to interrupt their victim impact statements in abusive terms as he was sentenced for sex offences including rape and attempted rape of the children.
Newcastle Crown Court heard one of the victims reported what Stewart was doing several years ago but a police investigation at the time did not result in any charges.
Stewart, emboldened by the lack of action, then went on to attack the second victim – trying to rape her but being disturbed when a concerned neighbour on the caravan site where he was heard the commotion.
As the 57-year-old pervert, of Albion Gardens, Burnopfield, County Durham, was sentenced, one of the victims, who was or primary school age when he targeted her, said: “The sexual abuse I suffered changed my life forever.
How could anyone do that to a young child and how could any child expect to live a normal life after what I suffered.
“I still picture an innocent little girl being petrified and not being able to speak to anyone about it. I was confused and scared and started thinking it was me doing something wrong, not him.
“What he did to me has affected me in all areas of my life. I still haven’t dealt with what he did to me
“I’m scared of Joe Stewart, I’m absolutely petrified of him. He might now suffer the way I’ve suffered my whole life. My life was ruined at the point he started abusing me.”
His other victim said: “I was totally changed as a person after the abuse. I really struggle to trust anyone.”
She added about the offence: “He has to be sick in the head to do what he did to me. It makes my skin crawl when I think about him.”
Judge Tim Gittins told Stewart: “No one who has heard those victim impact statements could be anything other than moved by their ongoing anguish.
“You spent the trial arrogantly complaining these two women had conspired with each other to form a case against you. You have continued to demonstrate no remorse whatsoever given your attempts, in abusive language, to interrupt the victim personal statements today. There is not one iota of remorse that I have seen.”
Stewart, convicted of unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl aged under 16 in the 1991, was found guilty after a trial earlier this year of rape, attempted rape, five counts of indecent assault, indecency with a child and sexual activity with a child.
Judge Gittins said Stewart will remain a danger to young girls for some time and imposed a 21 year prison sentence – of which he must serve two-thirds in custody – with an extended licence period of a further year. The paedophile, who smiled at hearing the sentence, will also be subject to a sexual harm prevention order, sex offender registration and a restraining order.
Lee Fish, defending, said Stewart maintains his innocence and, referring to his behaviour during the sentencing hearing, said he “obviously feels strongly about it”.
