KEITH HAMILTON FROM SOUTH HETTON JAILED FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES INVOLVING 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN DURHAM

In a case that has shocked the local community of South Hetton, Keith Hamilton, aged 42, has been sentenced to six years in prison after being found guilty of engaging in sexual activities with a 14-year-old girl. The disturbing incidents unfolded late last year, revealing a pattern of escalating misconduct that began with inappropriate touching and culminated in full sexual intercourse on at least three separate occasions.

Durham Crown Court heard that Hamilton, a taxi operator by profession, had developed a troubling relationship with the young girl, whom he treated as if she were an adult partner. The court was informed that some of these offences occurred while Hamilton’s wife was hospitalized for nine days, providing him with an opportunity to carry out his misconduct without immediate oversight. The case came to light in November when the girl disclosed to authorities that Hamilton had initially indecently touched her before engaging in full sexual acts in the weeks prior to her revelation.

Prosecutor David Crook detailed how the girl recounted the incidents, explaining that Hamilton would often be drinking during these episodes. When she attempted to resist his advances, he would dismiss her protests by telling her to “shut up,” and would sometimes physically assault her by punching her in the ribs and pinning her arms down. The girl also told police that Hamilton would repeatedly claim he “loved her,” which she initially believed, as she wanted to lead a normal life and did not understand the severity of the situation at the time.

Following the disclosure, Hamilton fled the country but was eventually persuaded to return to the UK by friends. During police interviews, he admitted to having sexual intercourse with the girl two or three times, describing her as “a girl growing into a woman,” and insisted that all encounters were consensual. Despite his claims, Hamilton, of Charters Crescent, South Hetton, County Durham, pleaded guilty to three counts of rape and one count of sexual touching during a recent court hearing.

At the sentencing hearing, Hamilton’s defense barrister, Robin Patton, emphasized that the girl bore no responsibility for the situation, stating, “She bears no blame or responsibility for the situation he finds himself in, or for the activities that took place. She didn’t encourage him in any way.” Mr. Patton also acknowledged that Hamilton was experiencing personal difficulties at the time, including stress related to the failure of his business, which had previously been successful. He noted that the probation report did not consider Hamilton to pose a future threat of reoffending and described him as “hard working.”

However, Judge Peter Armstrong was unequivocal in his remarks, stating, “It began with touching and progressed to having full intercourse. You were treating her like an adult girlfriend when she was, in fact, still a child.” The judge sentenced Hamilton to six years in prison and imposed an indefinite sexual offences prevention order, which restricts him from having future contact with children, aiming to prevent any further harm and protect potential victims in the future.