News / International
Jehovah's Witness jailed for sex attack on teen
03 Feb 2015 at 15:56hrs | Views
A Jehovah's Witness has been jailed for a sex attack on a teenage girl - despite his leaders refusing to co-operate with police.
According to shieldsgazette, Paul Atkin, 32, was disfellowshipped after elders at The Kingdom Hall in South Shields heard a claim had been made against him a decade ago.
But Newcastle Crown Court yesterday heard that when a police investigation was later launched, 'church' officials refused to help detectives.
Deborah Smith, prosecuting, said it would appear there was some form of investigation by the church.
Atkin, of East Moffat Street, South Shields, was initially accused of rape, but that charge was dropped when he admitted sexual activity with a child.
Today, he was jailed for five years and told he must sign the sex offenders' register for the rest of his life.
The court heard his victim was a schoolgirl when he had sex with her did not wish to have sex with him.
In a statement read out in court, the victim, now an adult, said: "This has had a major effect on me, and I cannot trust men."
The court heard the woman is still on anti-depressants and says her self-confidence has been shattered by her ordeal.
After the case, Atkin's victim said she is now finally able to move on with her life after years of knowing the person who attacked her was walking the streets as a free man.
According to shieldsgazette, Paul Atkin, 32, was disfellowshipped after elders at The Kingdom Hall in South Shields heard a claim had been made against him a decade ago.
But Newcastle Crown Court yesterday heard that when a police investigation was later launched, 'church' officials refused to help detectives.
Deborah Smith, prosecuting, said it would appear there was some form of investigation by the church.
Atkin, of East Moffat Street, South Shields, was initially accused of rape, but that charge was dropped when he admitted sexual activity with a child.
Today, he was jailed for five years and told he must sign the sex offenders' register for the rest of his life.
The court heard his victim was a schoolgirl when he had sex with her did not wish to have sex with him.
In a statement read out in court, the victim, now an adult, said: "This has had a major effect on me, and I cannot trust men."
The court heard the woman is still on anti-depressants and says her self-confidence has been shattered by her ordeal.
After the case, Atkin's victim said she is now finally able to move on with her life after years of knowing the person who attacked her was walking the streets as a free man.
Source - online
