Girl was groomed and then abused
WHEN Terrence McAdam bumped into a schoolgirl in Eldon Square, it was the beginning of chain of events that would see him groom, abuse and rape her.
After apologising for the accidental contact between them, McAdam, then 34, struck up a conversation with the 15-year-old and gave her his phone number.
A court heard there was then communication between the pair in which McAdam told the youngster he wanted to “treat her like a princess”.
He regularly texted her, saying he wanted to “wine and dine” her and she started to become flattered by his grooming behaviour.
Eventually she agreed to meet McAdam in Newcastle city centre and said he was “lovely at first”. She regarded him as her boyfriend and they began having sex, often in public.
A court heard the vulnerable girl’s concerned mum tried reporting McAdam at the time, 10 years ago, but was brushed off by police because her daughter was “already sexually active”.
Judge Amanda Rippon, at Newcastle Crown Court, told McAdam: “The police were called when [the victim’s] mother discovered it.
“The police told her not to bother making a complaint because your victim was already sexually active.
“Unfortunately that is not the first time I have been made aware of such an attitude from the police in the past.
“There has been a sea change in police attitudes and I’ve no doubt she would today be considered vulnerable and all the more in need of protection.
“You are not responsible for the attitude of the police, but you had the advantage of it.
“She was trying to report your sexual relationship with an under-age, vulnerable girl.”
The court heard McAdam had sex with the schoolgirl on numerous occasions in various public locations.
Judge Rippon said: “You had sex on many occasions, often outdoors or in public places, in bushes, public toilets, in fast food restaurants, behind churches, in dark doorways.”
McAdam also subjected her to a rape on one occasion in a tent which left her screaming and crying.
Within a few months the relationship ended and the girl was feeling trapped by McAdam.
Judge Rippon said: “You were not happy she ended the relationship.
“You called her at home and made threats.
“You threatened to throw acid at her and said she might have been HIV positive from you.”
The victim read a statement in court outlining the impact the offending had and said she has suffered depression and has had counselling.
She added: “It’s comforting to get closure and knowing I prevented similar scenarios happening in future.
“Speaking about what happened was extremely embarrassing and traumatising.
“I would say the damage has been long-lasting and life-changing.”
Susan Hirst, prosecuting, said of a statement by the victim’s mum: “She initially raised it with the police in 2007 and she feels she was let down at that stage and it would have come to court at the time if she received a different response.
“She says the images of what her daughter has suffered will always remain with her.”
Dad-of-three McAdam, now 45, who has been living with his mother in Denton Burn, Newcastle, was found guilty after a trial of rape, sexual activity with a child and supplying the victim and her friend with amphetamine.
He was jailed for 10 and a half years and told he must sign the sex offenders’ register for life and was made subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.
The court heard he has 53 previous convictions but none for sexual offences.
Annelise Haugstad, mitigating, said: “He is well known in the Newcastle area, and he is aware the effect of the sentencing in respect of this type of offending will not only have on himself but on his family in general.”