Five men, part of an Eastern European grooming gang, were sentenced after being convicted of abusing teenage girls in Gateshead.
What the court heard
During an eight‑week trial at Newcastle Crown Court, four Romanian men and an Albanian were found guilty of 31 offences involving six victims aged 13 to 15 between 2014 and 2019. The abuse included rape, sexual activity with a child, blackmail, attempted rape, serious sexual assault, supplying a Class A drug and the creation of child‑sex material.
Victims said they were first targeted by teenage boys who pretended to be in a relationship, then exploited by the older men. Some were given alcohol or cocaine before the assaults. One survivor described the experience as “nothing less than haunting” and said she was “petrified of all men”.
Sentences imposed
Sentences ranged from 18 months to 14 years. Bogdan Gugiuman, 44, received 14 years for rape and drug supply. Codrin Dura, 27, got 13 years for a suite of sexual offences and drug supply. Leonard Paun, 23, was jailed for five years and one month for rape and related crimes. Stefan Ciuraru, 22, received 18 months for sexual assault and child‑related offences. Klaudio Aleksiu, 28, an Albanian, was sentenced to six years for rape. The judge noted that Aleksiu, Dura and Paun were juveniles at the time of the offences.
A sixth defendant was acquitted of all charges. Judge Tim Gittins commended the victims for their courage and said their nationality was irrelevant to sentencing.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many men were convicted?
Five men – four Romanians and one Albanian – were found guilty of the offences.
What ages were the victims?
The six victims were between 13 and 15 years old at the time of the abuse.
What sentences were handed down?
Sentences ranged from 18 months to 14 years, with the longest term (14 years) given to Bogdan Gugiuman for rape and drug supply.
What steps could communities take to protect vulnerable teens from similar exploitation?
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