SHANON ANDERSON FROM SEAHAM RECEIVES CUSTODY AND PLEADS GUILTY TO CHILD SEXUAL OFFENCES IN DURHAM

Shanon Anderson, a 24-year-old from Seaham, has been awarded custody of her one-year-old child, whom she already has, and will also retain custody of her unborn child, who is due in seven weeks.

Anderson must inform her family members of her conviction if she wishes to maintain contact with them, provided they have male children under 16.

On January 6th, Anderson appeared at Durham Crown Court where she pleaded guilty to charges of sexual activity with a child. She was pregnant at the time and was released on bail pending her sentencing scheduled for March 11th, 2022.

The case involves serious allegations of child sexual abuse. Anderson, also scheduled for trial on January 5th, 2022, faced four counts, including kissing the boy on two occasions and engaging in full penetrative sex at least eleven times. The incidents are believed to have taken place around 2018 and were brought to light after the child's mother discovered messages on the boy's phone, in which they expressed eagerness to sleep together again, with messages stating "can't wait to sleep together AGAIN."

Following her arrest, Anderson was bailed, and her trial was initially scheduled for June 2021 but was rescheduled to January 5th, 2022. After pleading guilty on January 6th, she was released on bail until her sentencing hearing on March 11th, 2022.