Lewis Spence

Lewis Spence, a 26-year-old man from Fawdon in Newcastle, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison after pleading guilty to rape and sexual assault at Newcastle Crown Court earlier in November 2025.

Spence and his victim had known each other since school and reconnected during a night out in Newcastle in 2019. Their relationship progressed rapidly, leading to the birth of their daughter. However, the victim noticed a change in Spence's behaviour shortly after the child was born. Not long afterwards, he raped her in their shared home.

The victim recounted the ordeal, stating: "I told him to stop and he didn't." Following the attacks, Spence would cry and apologise, manipulating her with excuses and making her feel sorry for him. This emotional manipulation left the victim feeling trapped and unable to leave the abusive relationship immediately.

The assaults occurred on more than one occasion, with Spence denying wrongdoing and convincing her that his actions were acceptable. It was only with the help of her father in late 2022 that the victim was able to escape the situation. She reported the crimes to Northumbria Police after confiding in her father during a panic attack, explaining: "My dad found me having a panic attack and I told my dad everything." She and her daughter stayed on her father's sofa, unable to return to the flat.

Due to court backlogs caused by Covid-19, the victim endured a three-year wait for justice, living in fear of encountering Spence and avoiding areas of Newcastle where she grew up. She described the period as surreal, saying: "I reported it in late 2022 and he's only been convicted now. I had to avoid the area I grew-up in. I never thought I would see the end of it."

Following the sentencing, Detective Inspector Aaron Nichol of Northumbria Police’s Safeguarding Department praised the victim's bravery: “The victim in this case has shown such bravery in coming forward and bringing the person who abused her to justice. We’d like to praise her courage and composure throughout this whole investigation and the criminal justice process. We hope this result can go some way in giving her some closure and allowing her to move on with her life.” Nichol added that Spence would be closely monitored for the rest of his life, providing reassurance to the community.

The victim expressed relief at the outcome, noting the profound impact on her life: "It's horrible. Not only has it totally affected my ability to trust people it's affected my trust in my own judgement. I thought he was a good person which is why I wanted a family with him." She concluded: "It's took three years to get here but I finally feel like I can get on with my life. I feel like I can start healing now."