LEE MASON AND THE SHOCKING ATTACK IN DURHAM
A deeply disturbing case of sexual violence has resulted in the incarceration of Lee Mason for nearly 13 years, following his heinous crimes against a teenage girl.The incident unfolded after Mason, 27 years old, engaged in a seemingly innocent act of allowing the teenager to sit on his motorbike for photographs.
This occurred after a night out in Middlesbrough, where Mason was present.
However, the moment of seemingly harmless fun took a dark turn when Mason abruptly sped away from the teenager’s location, leaving her to find her own way after her friends and safety net had been left behind.
The young girl was then taken to a remote area by Mason, where he committed two sexual assaults.
The situation worsened when Mason drove her further into an even more isolated part of the countryside.
It was here that the teenager endured a traumatic rape, an act that would leave her with lasting scars.
The gravity of her ordeal was only partially alleviated when Mason eventually dropped her off near a friend’s home, a place where she was finally able to call emergency services in a desperate bid for help.
During the court proceedings, Aisha Wadoodi, the prosecutor, detailed the horror the victim experienced, emphasizing the physical and emotional trauma inflicted upon her.
The victim’s mother was quick to respond, rushing to Middlesbrough after being alerted, desperate to locate her daughter.
The heartbreak was compounded by the revelation that the teenager contracted a sexually transmitted infection resulting from Mason’s assault.
The victim’s statement was filled with anguish and pain.
She described how, since the attack, she is haunted by the sound of a motorbike, which triggers intense fear and panic.
She explained, “Ever since you raped me, I have never been able to feel the same again.
I now have trouble closing my eyes because all that I see is your face and have been prescribed sleeping tablets.
I now have panic attacks when I hear noises in the night, I worry that it is you.
What you did is constantly replayed over and over in my mind.
Whenever I hear or see a motorbike, I think it is you and I panic.” Her mother also delivered a heartfelt statement, revealing the emotional toll of her daughter’s suffering.
She recounted how a photograph showing her daughter on Mason’s motorbike was sent and then shown to the police, a sight that filled her with shock and rage.
She lamented, “It saddens me that she looked so happy in the picture, not knowing what was to come.
It’s the last picture of my daughter before you, a grown man and predator, destroyed our lives and put us through hell.” Thanks to the prompt action of the investigating officers, crucial CCTV footage and photographic evidence were secured, leading to Mason’s quick arrest.
Mason, who resides on Hartington Road, Stockton, pleaded guilty to charges of rape, assault by penetration, and sexual assault committed on April 24 of this year.
In his defense, Victoria Lamballe, representing Mason, acknowledged her client’s remorse and responsibility.
She stated, “He recognizes, as he must, that this was a truly terrifying attack on this young woman.” The sentencing was delivered by Judge Howard Crowson, who sentenced Mason to a combined total of 12 years and nine months in prison.
The judge emphasized the ongoing impact of the assault on the victim, noting that her suffering persisted long after the incident.
He described her as having been unable to eat, sleep properly, or even attend work at times, highlighting the profound and lasting effects of Mason’s actions.
Judge Crowson underlined the severity of the case, characterizing it as a series of sexual assaults by a stranger that left the young woman burdened with feelings of self-loathing, despite having no justification for such emotions.
The incident has profoundly damaged her life, with her psychological and emotional well-being still reeling from Mason’s predatory behavior.
