ROBERT ANTHONY RYAN SENTENCED IN TRIMDON COLLIERY FOR PREDATORY SEX OFFENSES
A predatory sex offender, Robert Anthony Ryan, who was on bail for sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl, lured an underage girl into his home before raping her, a court was told.Ryan, from Lawson Street, Trimdon Colliery, had met the girl at a bus stop and falsely claimed he needed her help, persuading her to accompany him to his nearby residence.
Durham Crown Court heard that once inside, he committed the assault despite the girl protesting and revealing her age.
Prosecutor Robin Patton stated, "Following the attack, Ryan told the shaken girl not to say anything about it and escorted her back to the bus stop, where she was physically sick." The victim later confided in a family member three years after the incident, but did not report it to police until she began counselling for ongoing anxiety related to the trauma.
When Ryan was arrested in 2020, he initially claimed the girl had willingly engaged in sex with him, maintaining that false story throughout the court proceedings.
It was only just before Christmas, on the day of his trial, that he admitted to the rape.
The court also heard that Ryan has previous sex offenses from 2009 and 2016.
His sentencing was delayed to allow the Probation Service to prepare a background report.
During the hearing, the court was told of the significant and lasting impact on the victim, who moved away from the North East when she turned 16.
Her victim statement expressed feelings of mistrust towards others, especially men, and described the anxiety she has endured since the assault.
The probation report described Ryan as posing a considerable risk to the public, particularly to young females.
Defense representative Robert Mochrie acknowledged that two of Ryan’s past offenses occurred close together and suggested there may have been personal issues influencing his behavior, though nothing similar has happened in recent years.
However, Judge James Adkin described Ryan as a dangerous offender, particularly toward younger females, noting a pattern of targeting children with predatory intent.
The judge emphasized Ryan’s unpredictable and uncontrolled behavior.
Ryan was sentenced to eight years and one month in prison, with a minimum of two-thirds to be served before parole eligibility, though he might serve the entire sentence.
Upon release, he will be subject to a four-year extended licence period.
Additionally, Ryan was placed under lifetime conditions including a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, notification requirements as a sex offender, and a lifetime restraining order prohibiting contact with the victim.
