CHILD RAPIST SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS
A child sex offender who engaged in a pattern of sexual abuse has been condemned as ‘arrogant and despicable’ following his 25-year incarceration.George Bellwood, aged 32, was responsible for horrendous acts of abuse that deeply affected his young victim, including the recording of some of the assaults on video.
He pleaded guilty to all charges, but only after forcing the young girl to undergo cross-examination ahead of his court hearing.
During the sentencing, Judge Jo Kidd stated: “(The victim) was the subject of the most heinous, monstrous, violent abuse by you.
“Matters came to light when they disclosed to their teacher what had happened.
The child said - ‘it makes me sad and stressed and I wish I was dead’.” Durham Crown Court heard how Bellwood’s violent sexual offences led to health issues for the girl and caused her to cry endlessly, despite his continued assaults.
The judge added that Bellwood’s delaying tactics regarding his guilty pleas appeared aimed at manipulating the situation to avoid earlier cross-examination.
“You withheld your pleas in this case cynically to see whether or not they would be well enough to be cross examined.
You have pushed the issues of your pleas to the end on every occasion.
“You were obviously to eventually to enter pleas to offences captured on video recordings,” she added.
She criticised his lack of regard for the emotional trauma he caused, describing his behaviour as arrogant and lacking remorse.
Prosecutor Jonathan Walker explained that Bellwood’s crimes came to light when the child confided in her teacher and digital devices revealed video recordings of the abuse.
The victim’s mother provided a heart-breaking statement, describing her child's current difficulties with emotional regulation and their frequent suicidal thoughts.
Bellwood, of Darlington, pleaded guilty to multiple offences, including child rape, sexual assault of a minor, inciting sexual activity, possessing indecent images, distributing such images, and possessing extreme pornography.
Representing the defendant, Robert Mochrie, stated that Bellwood acknowledges the severity of his actions and expressed hope for his victim’s eventual healing.
He will be subjected to lifelong registration as a sex offender.
