Stephen Plant

Stephen Plant, a 24-year-old man from Washington in the North East of England, was sentenced to 15 years in prison at Newcastle Crown Court this week following convictions for a series of serious sexual offences. The case, investigated by Northumbria Police and Durham Constabulary, highlighted Plant's repeated predatory behaviour against multiple victims.

Earlier this year, Plant was found guilty of three counts of rape and two counts of sexual assault against a woman. The offences involved him raping and assaulting his victim on several occasions. The woman reported the abuse to Northumbria Police, prompting a thorough investigation that led to his conviction.

• Three counts of rape
• Two counts of sexual assault

In a separate investigation by Durham Constabulary, it emerged that when Plant was 16 years old, he had met a girl in public places on multiple occasions. He provided her with alcohol before coercing her into performing sexual acts on him. Plant admitted to four counts of sexual activity with a girl aged 13 to 15 as a result of this probe.

• Four counts of sexual activity with a girl aged 13 to 15

Detective Constable Amy Burridge from Northumbria Police's rape investigation team described Plant as an 'extremely dangerous man who has committed some of the most horrendous crimes... against multiple victims time and time again.' She commended the victims for their bravery throughout the process. Similarly, Detective Constable Hanna Liddle from Durham Constabulary praised the courage of the young survivor in coming forward, emphasising that the outcome demonstrates the police's commitment to treating reports of sexual offences seriously and sensitively.

The sentencing at Newcastle Crown Court marks a significant step in delivering justice for the victims, with Plant now behind bars for a total of 15 years for all offences combined. The case was reported by Chronicle Live on 17 December 2025.