'Disgusting' paedophile who raped children jailed

Karl Young's behaviour was "vile" and "near sadistic", Newcastle Crown Court heard

A paedophile who raped and sexually abused two children has been jailed for 25 and a half years.

Karl Young, 33, ignored a young teenage girl's crying pleas to stop and raped her after telling her it was "OK" as other girls her age were pregnant, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

After she reported him to police, another child revealed they had been raped and abused by Young since before they were 10 years old.

Young, from South Shields, admitted numerous offences, including multiple rapes, with prosecutors saying he groomed and threatened his victims.

He initially claimed the victims were lying and told police the girl had sexually grabbed him, prosecutor Richard Herrmann said.

Forensic evidence proved Young, of St Marks Way, had raped the girl, Mr Herrmann said.

The court heard she begged him to get off her but he told her: "Lots of [girls her age] around here are pregnant so it's OK."

'Vile and sadistic'

In a statement read to the court, the girl said she wanted Young "dead", felt "guilty and aggressive" and had severe mental health issues as a result of the abuse.

The girl's grandmother said she "couldn't believe someone could be so cruel and disgusting".

Judge Nicholas Lumley KC said the younger victim was subjected to a "brutal campaign of rape" and was "frightened" to tell anyone because of threats Young had made to them.

The judge said Young's behaviour towards the older girl was "vile and abusive" and his actions had been "near sadistic".

Young will have to serve a further year on extended licence upon his eventual release from prison, with the judge saying he was an offender of "particular concern".

The paedophile was also made subject of a sexual harm prevention order and must sign the sex offenders' register for life.