CHARLES WADE'S HORRIFIC CRIMES IN NEWCASTLE AND SOUTH SHIELDS LEAD TO JAIL SENTENCE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the communities of Newcastle and South Shields, Charles Wade, a man with a long history of sexual offenses, has been sentenced to prison for his heinous crimes committed decades ago. Wade, now 64 years old, was found guilty of multiple charges related to the sexual abuse of a young boy during the 1960s, when the victim was only seven years old.

According to court proceedings, Wade targeted the young schoolboy in South Shields, engaging in repeated assaults that left lasting scars on the victim. Prosecutor Gavin Doig detailed the disturbing nature of the abuse, stating, “Sometimes the victim would cry, sometimes he would remain quiet. He recalls the defendant would laugh when he was finished. He would laugh at the complainant’s distress.”

Wade, who resides in Newcastle, pleaded guilty to four counts of indecent assault. The court was also informed of Wade’s troubling criminal history, which includes a prior conviction for indecent assault on another victim in 1967. Additionally, he was convicted of raping an adult woman in 1992, and in December 1989, he was found guilty of sex offenses involving another child.

Judge Paul Sloan QC delivered the sentence, condemning Wade’s actions and their lasting impact. He stated, “Even though your victim was sometimes in tears, you carried on regardless and you would leave him crying after you had abused him. On many occasions, you also laughed at him, at his distress. This occurred over 40 years ago and has haunted him ever since. You ruined his childhood.”

In his defense, Stephen Duffield acknowledged Wade’s guilty plea but offered little else in mitigation, emphasizing the seriousness of the crimes and their enduring effects. The judge ultimately sentenced Wade to six years in prison, reflecting the gravity of his offenses and the pain inflicted upon his victims.