STEPHEN SANDERSON FROM COUNDON GRANGE TO FACE DELAYED SENTENCE IN BISHOP AUCKLAND CASE

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the Bishop Auckland community, Stephen Sanderson, a 28-year-old man from Coundon Grange, has had his sentencing postponed following a brutal assault that took place near a local cemetery. The incident, which occurred on the footpath between Bishop Auckland Town Cemetery, located off South Church Road, and Brack's Fram, has left the victim and her family devastated.

On the day of the attack, Saturday, October 20, at approximately 8 pm, Sanderson approached a teenage girl from behind in a seemingly unprovoked assault. According to court reports, he brandished a knife, forcibly took her phone, and handcuffed her, committing what has been described as a stranger rape. After the assault, Sanderson fled the scene, discarding the handcuffs before heading in the opposite direction, leaving the victim traumatized and in shock.

Members of the victim’s family attended Durham Crown Court expecting to see justice served with a sentencing. However, their hopes were temporarily dashed when Judge Christopher Prince announced that he could not proceed with sentencing at that time. The judge explained that he needed additional time to consider whether a life sentence was appropriate in this case, as the law allows for such a penalty but does not mandate it.

During the hearing, Judge Prince addressed the victim’s mother, who was visibly distressed and broke down in court. The judge expressed understanding of the family’s eagerness for closure but emphasized the importance of thorough judicial consideration. “I have been thinking about this a great deal,” he stated. “The whole family will be very eager that this case is finally dealt with.” He further explained that while the offence was “every person’s nightmare,” it had come “out of the blue” for Sanderson, who had no prior history of sexual offending.

Additionally, a psychiatric report was presented, indicating that although Sanderson, who resides on Wesley Street in Coundon Grange, could pose a future risk, he had no recollection of the incident itself. Judge Prince acknowledged that this lack of memory could be “genuine,” adding complexity to the case. As a result, he ordered a further psychiatric assessment to evaluate Sanderson’s mental state, including his level of intelligence and whether he has a learning disability or just learning difficulties.

Sanderson’s legal representative, Kitty Colley, acknowledged the potential danger he poses but requested the additional psychiatric reports to better understand his mental capacity. The judge granted this request and scheduled the next hearing for April 5 at 10 am, where Sanderson’s sentence will be formally handed down. Until then, he remains in custody at HMP Durham and will appear via video link for the upcoming proceedings.

Judge Prince reassured the victim’s mother that she should not feel guilt over the incident and expressed regret that justice could not be fully served at this moment. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that the case is handled properly and that the appropriate sentence is determined based on comprehensive evidence and assessments.