PAUL AIRD SENTENCED FOR HORRIFIC CHILD RAPE IN HARTLEPOOL AND TEESSIDE

In a case that has shocked the Hartlepool community and the wider Teesside area, Paul Aird, a former court security officer, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for a series of heinous crimes committed over more than two decades. The 49-year-old, who was employed at Hartlepool Magistrates’ Court, was found guilty of a disturbing campaign of sexual abuse against four children, involving acts of rape and indecent assault that spanned from December 1981 to February 2002.

During a five-day trial held at Teesside Crown Court in July, the jury heard harrowing details of Aird’s misconduct. The victims, two boys and two girls, were subjected to his abuse both in his car and at his residence on Oxford Road, Hartlepool. Despite his vehement denials, Aird was convicted on multiple charges, including seven counts of rape, two of buggery, one of attempted rape, and three of indecent assault. The court was also told that Aird instructed one girl to remain silent for years, claiming that revealing the abuse could have been fatal for her ill mother.

Throughout the proceedings, Aird maintained his innocence, asserting that the allegations were fabricated by his former wife’s family following his marriage to a younger woman. The jury was directed to acquit him of certain charges, including indecent assaults at a barbecue and Christmas party, as well as a buggery offence and an indecent assault for which he was cleared.

Following the verdicts, Aird was brought back to Durham Crown Court for sentencing. It was revealed that, despite the convictions, he continues to deny the allegations. His legal representative, Robin Denny, acknowledged the gravity of the offences but emphasized that Aird’s wife still supports him. Denny also disclosed that Aird was scheduled to attend his father’s funeral shortly after sentencing.

Judge Evans delivered a stern judgment, condemning Aird’s actions as a complete lack of shame, remorse, or compassion. The judge highlighted the resilience of the victims, praising their ability to rebuild their lives despite the trauma inflicted upon them. Aird was ordered to register as a sex offender for life, with strict restrictions preventing him from working with children and subjecting him to a sexual offences’ prevention order.

Commenting on the case, Detective Sergeant Matt Mason of Cleveland Police’s Hartlepool child abuse investigation unit expressed satisfaction with the outcome. He stated, “The victims, who are now all adults, are delighted with this outcome,” underscoring the importance of justice for those affected by Aird’s actions. The case remains a stark reminder of the ongoing need for vigilance and support for victims of child abuse in the Hartlepool and Teesside regions.