Levy Rowell

A Shildon man has been sentenced to eight years in prison after being found guilty of raping and sexually assaulting a younger teenage girl in 2022. Levy Rowell, who was 18 at the time of the offence, ignored the victim's desperate pleas to stop during the attack, which took place in the presence of another boy.

Durham Crown Court heard from prosecutor Robin Turton that Rowell grabbed the girl by the waist, pulled down her shorts and underwear, groped her, and made persistent attempts to rape her. Despite protests from both the victim and the other boy present, who urged him to stop, the girl tragically gave up resisting. Following the incident, she and the boy managed to flee the scene, and police were subsequently notified.

Rowell initially denied any involvement when questioned by police, claiming he was not even present. He maintained these denials during his trial in June this year, but a jury convicted him of both rape and sexual assault. The now 21-year-old, residing on Magnolia Way in Shildon, failed to appear for his scheduled sentencing in August, prompting the issuance of an arrest warrant. He was eventually brought before the court via video link from HMP Durham on 23 October.

The victim provided a poignant statement to the court, detailing the profound impact of the assault. She described suffering from nightmares, panic attacks, and self-harm since the event, though therapy has aided her recovery, placing her in a 'better state'. Judge Nathan Adams acknowledged the 'significant' effect on the victim's emotional development, stating, 'I hope that in time, with the right support, she will be able to move forward.'

Defence barrister Victoria Lamballe highlighted Rowell's immaturity and intellectual limitations as factors contributing to his apparent 'apathy', noting his limited prior offending history at the time of the rape, aside from a subsequent suspended sentence for an unrelated matter. Judge Adams imposed the minimum sentence of eight years' imprisonment, of which Rowell must serve two-thirds before eligibility for release on licence. Additional measures include 15-year restraining orders protecting the victim and the witness, a 15-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and lifelong registration on the sex offenders' register.

The case was reported by The Northern Echo, with details emerging from Durham Crown Court proceedings. Durham Constabulary provided images of the defendant.