Bogdan Gugiuman

Bogdan Gugiuman, aged 44, from Westbourne Avenue, Gateshead, was convicted at Newcastle Crown Court following an eight-week trial that concluded on 14 October 2024. As part of a multi-national grooming gang, the Romanian man was found guilty of three counts of rape and supplying a Class A drug. The offences targeted six girls aged 13 to 16 in the Gateshead and Tyne and Wear region from 2014 to 2019.

Northumbria Police's extensive inquiry revealed how the gang, including Gugiuman, exploited vulnerable teenagers by providing drugs and alcohol, leading to sexual assaults. The victims suffered profound trauma from the systematic abuse orchestrated in the Bensham area.

Senior Investigating Officer Graeme Barr reflected on the case's severity: 'Every child has the right to grow up safe from harm but for these girls their childhood was snatched from them in the cruellest of ways.' CPS representative Charlotte Dennison underscored the collaborative prosecution: 'The Crown Prosecution Service has worked closely with Northumbria Police to build a robust case against these men. Their abuse of these girls has had a lasting and traumatic effect upon them.'

The convictions of five gang members, including Gugiuman, mark a significant step in delivering justice, though sentencing is deferred to a subsequent hearing.