A young man broke down in tears during his court sentencing for sexually assaulting a teenage girl he encountered while socializing in a South Shields park. Owen Wilson, now 18, was emotional as Judge Penny Moreland delivered a two-year suspended prison term at Newcastle Crown Court.
Wilson, residing at Grace Court in South Shields, was also ordered to perform 250 hours of community service and engage in 40 days of rehabilitation activities. Additionally, he received a 10-year restraining order and was mandated to register as a sex offender for a decade.
The court learned that Wilson, then 15 years old, was with friends at a South Shields park on August 19, 2023, where they interacted with younger girls present in the area. The victim, who had been socializing with the group, was left alone with Wilson later in the day. The victim disclosed to a friend the next day that she had been assaulted by Wilson.
Upon receiving this information, the victim’s family contacted the authorities. During police questioning, Wilson remained silent but later admitted to the rape charge during a plea and trial preparation session.
Judge Penny Moreland stated that she had to apply a sentence reflecting the time of the offense when Wilson was a minor.
