EDITOR'S CHOICE TALKING POINT Axe proposed for 81 post offices EATING OUT Michaelangelo’s, Darlington Road, Neville’s Cross EATING IN Prawn Cocktail PAST TIMES Of Pembertons and pits – a tale of three villages GET OUR NEWS BY E-MAIL Just register

Most read Comments 1 Meet the new chief executive of unitary authority 2 Teenager unintentionally killed his friend 3 Houghall College goes on sale next week 4 Race for Life seeks volunteers 5 ‘Students are causing more trouble than ever’ 6 Funeral held for businessman 7 Thieves warned to expect prison after officer hurt 8 All these initials, it's just OTT - View from the Lumley End 9 Agreement to tackle use of carrier bags 10 Point gives Durham home advantage against Tykes Today | 7 Days 1 Go-ahead likely for office plans despite MP’s concern 2 Thanks for support

Comment

A FORMER fireman who abused two schoolgirls almost twenty years ago has been jailed for 15 years.

David Holland, 55, sexually assaulted the girls, and raped one of them, during the 1980s when he was the owner of a South Shields gun shop.

It was only after his victims bravely broke their two-decade silence that Holland, who has worked for the past 18 years as a solicitors' representative at police stations, was brought to justice.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how after his arrest last year police searched his home and found an "armoury" of illegal firearms and ammunition including a revolver, two rifles, a shotgun and ammunition.

Judge Guy Whitburn sentenced him to a total of 15 years behind bars.

Holland, of The Wynds, Esh Winning, had admitted some charges against one of his victims but had denied most of the offences including rape and indecency with a child.

The judge told him: "You have committed extremely serious sexual offences against two children.

"You required both these girls, now women, to give evidence."

One of the victims told police: "He thought he was above the law and I feel proud I have gone through this process" after Holland was convicted.

Defence barrister Richard Davenport said Holland has no memory of some of the sexual offences which could be explained because he has some form of tumour in his brain.

Mr Davenport said Holland had kept the guns and ammunition from his days a firearms dealer and had not acquired them for criminal purposes.

Judge Whitburn said the firearms charges, which Holland had admitted, were a serious aspect of the case Holland must sign the sex offenders register for life and has been banned from ever working with children.

5:54pm Friday 9th May 2008

Print

Email this

Comment

Add your comment

Name:
Email: *
Location:
**
	e.g. 123-123
Comment: Please note: All HTML tags will be ignored. Format Text:
By posting a comment, I confirm that I have read and agree to the terms of use. Comments are not moderated but we will react if anything that breaks the rules comes to our attention and we may delete inappropriate postings. Please treat other people with respect. You must not post anything that is abusive, indecent, unlawful or defamatory. Remember, you are personally liable for what you post on this site. If you wish to complain about a comment, contact us here.
* Your email address will not be displayed ** To avoid register now or login