TERRY RAYNER AND KEVIN ROBINSON FROM HORDEN, PETERLEE, AND SHERBURN JAILED FOR SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF UNDERAGE BOY IN DURHAM

In a disturbing case that has shocked the communities of Horden, Peterlee, and Sherburn, two men have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms after being found guilty of sexually exploiting a vulnerable teenage boy. The offences took place during a period when the boy, aged just 14 and 15 at the time, was experimenting with his sexuality and was unaware of the full extent of the danger he was in.

Kevin Robinson, aged 32, residing on Fourth Street in Horden, and Terry Rayner, aged 35, from Jubilee Crescent in Sherburn Hill near Durham, were both convicted of multiple serious charges related to their exploitation of the young boy. The Durham Crown Court heard that both men deliberately invited the teenager into their homes in Horden and Sherburn to carry out sexual acts, fully aware of his underage status and vulnerability.

Robinson pleaded guilty to three counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child, along with additional charges of creating indecent images of children, distributing such images, and possessing extreme pornography. Rayner, on the other hand, admitted to four counts of sexual activity with a minor and one charge of arranging or facilitating a child sex offence. These admissions came after a thorough investigation and presentation of evidence, which included digital material found on the boy’s computer.

The court was informed that Robinson’s offences occurred between January and June 2014, when the victim was 14 years old. His crimes included not only sexual acts but also the creation and distribution of indecent images, with between 20 and 25 images classified as Category C severity, indicating a significant level of harm. Rayner’s offending spanned from April 2013 to September 2014, during which the boy was aged between 14 and 15. His crimes also involved sexual acts and the facilitation of a child sex offence.

Both men are now subject to strict restrictions on their future internet use and contact with underage boys, as part of an indefinite six-point Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Furthermore, they will be registered as sex offenders for life, a measure that underscores the seriousness of their crimes and the potential risk they pose to the community.

Prior to their sentencing, both Robinson and Rayner appeared in court on bail, but the prosecution’s evidence and the gravity of the offences led the judge, Christopher Prince, to remand them into custody. The judge emphasized that custody was inevitable, stating that the length of their imprisonment would be determined at the upcoming sentencing hearing scheduled for February 17. The court also ordered background reports from the Probation Service to assist in determining appropriate sentences.

As the case concluded, the judge made it clear that both men would face significant prison terms, reflecting the severity of their actions and the harm inflicted upon the young victim. The community and the victim’s family await the final sentencing, which will also determine the duration of their registration as sex offenders, a lifetime requirement in such cases.