A North East man has been jailed for over a decade after being found guilty of raping a teenage boy.

Paul Evennett, 55, of Fatfield in Washington, was jailed on Thursday at Newcastle Crown Court and will be behind bars for 13 years.

The criminal was said to have befriended the young victim and invited him to spend the day with him and raped him after they went home to watch a film.

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A year later, the victim reported the crime to Northumbria Police who investigated the report and subsequently charged Evennett with three counts of rape.

Lead investigator of the case Detective Constable Lee Boys of Northumbria Police said he hopes the sentence comes as a “stark warning” for other criminals who prey on young people.

He said: “Evennett preyed on a teenager decades his junior, he groomed him and made him believe he was a friend, someone he could rely on, and then subjected him to the worst ordeal imaginable.

“I absolutely welcome this sentence and hope it provides his brave victim with some comfort and a sense of justice.

“I want to praise the survivor for his bravery, I know it’s never easy to come forward and sadly often males find it especially hard, but your courage and composure during the investigation means a predatory man has been outed for what he is – a rapist – and locked up.”

In addition to his sentence, Evennett has been made to sign the Sex Offender’s Register for life, been given a restraining order preventing him from contact with the victim and handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

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Detective Constable Boys added: “No one should ever have to endure this type of assault and support is available from our officers and the many fantastic charities we work closely with.

“Regardless of your age, gender or sexuality – if you have ever been a victim of rape or any type of sexual assault, we and our partners are here for you and will do everything in our power to support you.”

Anyone wishing to disclose a report of rape or sexual assault can visit Northumbria Police’s website for more information. If it is an emergency, always call 999.