Five men were convicted today for their involvement in a grooming gang that raped and sexually assaulted young girls they encountered in a park. Among the victims was a 14-year-old girl who was coerced into drug addiction by the perpetrators and subsequently subjected to sexual exploitation, as detailed in Newcastle Crown Court. The group, comprising four Romanian men and one Albanian man, committed multiple offenses in Gateshead between 2015 and 2019, specifically targeting vulnerable girls in Saltwell Park. While one man was acquitted of all charges, the convicted individuals, including Codrin Dura, Leonard Paun, Bogdan Gugiuman, Klaudio Aleksiu, and Stefan Ciuraru, were remanded in custody pending sentencing at a later date.
Codrin Dura, aged 27, was found guilty of various charges involving one of the victims, referred to as Girl A, including rape, sexual activity with a child, attempted rape, blackmail, and sexual assault. Additionally, he was convicted of raping another girl, Girl B, arranging a child sex offense, and supplying Class A drugs.
Leonard Paun, 23, was convicted of sexual activity with a child and one count of rape concerning Girl B but was cleared of multiple additional rape charges against the same victim. He was also found guilty of arranging a child sex offense, distributing indecent child images, and supplying Class A drugs.
Bogdan Gugiuman, 44, was convicted of three rape counts related to Girl B, acquitted of one, and found guilty of supplying Class A drugs. Klaudio Aleksiu, 28, was convicted of one rape count involving Girl B, cleared of another, and found guilty of supplying Class A drugs.
Stefan Ciuraru, 22, was found guilty of various sexual assault charges involving girls B, C, and D, engaging in sexual activity with a child (Girl E), and inciting another child (Girl F) to participate in sexual activities.
Following over three days of deliberation, the jurors delivered their verdicts, with Judge Tim Gittins acknowledging their dedication and cautioning the convicted individuals about the likelihood of a prison sentence. Law enforcement emphasized the lifelong anonymity granted to sexual offense victims and urged against their identification. Det Chief Insp Graeme Barr of Northumbria Police commended the victims for their courage and highlighted the severity of the crimes committed by the perpetrators.
Charlotte Dennison, head of the Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) Unit at CPS North East, expressed hope that the victims could find solace in their contribution to securing convictions against their abusers, noting the exploitation suffered by some victims through drug and alcohol manipulation.