Kristofer McLaren

On 10 August 2014, Kristofer McLaren and Craig Whitelaw, both 21 years old and from Thirsk, North Yorkshire, met an 18-year-old girl at Club Amadeus on Elder Road in Northallerton. After leaving the nightclub, the two men attacked the victim outside, subjecting her to a sustained rape. The assault was described in court as brutal, with the perpetrators treating the victim 'like a piece of meat' and leaving her bleeding and distressed.

Following the attack, McLaren and Whitelaw bragged about the assault to a taxi driver as they departed the scene, laughing and boasting about what they had done. This callous behaviour was highlighted during the trial at Teesside Crown Court, where the pair were found guilty of one count of rape each. They were cleared of a second count of rape. The jury heard evidence of their remorseless attitude, underscoring the severity of the offence.

Detective Inspector Fiona Wynne from North Yorkshire Police expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating: 'I am delighted that justice has been delivered for the victim. She was subjected to a sustained attack by McLaren and Whitelaw. They treated her like a piece of meat and left her bleeding and distressed. They laughed and joked about it afterwards, even boasting to the taxi driver about what had just happened when they left the scene.' The victim's parents also praised the police response, noting: 'From the minute the police picked our daughter up she has been treated with the utmost respect and sympathy by everyone who has had contact with her.'

McLaren was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for the rape conviction. The case was prosecuted by North Yorkshire Police, with proceedings handled through HM Courts Service. This incident highlights the ongoing issue of sexual violence around nightlife venues in the UK.