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BRIAN RUTHERFORD OF MEADOW WELL, NEWCASTLE, SENTENCED FOR DECADES-LONG ABUSE CASE
A heinous sex offender who evaded justice for many years after abusing a young girl over an eight-year period has finally been incarcerated. Brian Rutherford, a resident of Avon Avenue on the North Shields Meadow Well estate, began abusing the girl in the 1980s when she was just four years old. The victim, now a woman, endured years of suffering while Rutherford remained at large, watching him live his life while she struggled to cope with the trauma. After mustering the courage to report Rutherford to the police, justice has now been served.Rutherford, aged 63, was convicted at Newcastle Crown Court on three counts of indecency with a child and six counts of indecent assault. He was sentenced to 17 years in prison. The victim, now 48 and whose identity is protected by law, expressed her relief: “I have lived with this all my life. I can never forget, but I hope I can move on now. It feels like a new chapter.”
She revealed that the abuse occurred when she was between four and 12 years old. She immediately confided in her mother and reported the incident to police, but later retracted her statement. Despite that, she continued to encounter Rutherford over the years and watched him go about his life as hers deteriorated.
“I suffered from mental health issues and I drank and took drugs to block everything out,” she said. “I could have had a totally different life. I’m not a stupid person. I think I could have done really well at school and got a good job, but instead I was drinking..”
The trauma also adversely affected her own children. “I don’t even let my daughter go out,” she admitted. “I’m terrified and I don’t trust people.”
Approximately two and a half years ago, the woman decided to take action. She reported Rutherford to Northumbria Police, noting, “He was just walking around like he had done nothing wrong. I just decided that was it, he needs punished.”
Following the trial, the jury found Rutherford guilty on all counts. She reflected on the verdict and sentencing: “When the verdicts came back it was amazing. The sentence was really great.”
In addition to his prison term, Rutherford was issued a lifelong restraining order to prevent any contact with his victim.
