A SICK Eastern European grooming gang raped teen girls and left one 14-year-old addicted to cocaine after plying her with drugs.
The five men targeted six girls aged between 13 and 16 in a five-year reign of terror.
AlamyThe men targeted victims in Gateshead[/caption]
They bought the victims cigarettes and alcohol in exchange for sexual favours after grooming them in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear.
One of the girls, aged 14, was left addicted to cocaine after being given drugs and passed around for sex.
Codrin Dura, 26, Leonard Paun, 23, Stefan Ciuraru, 22, Bogdan Gugiuman, 44, and Klaudio Aleksiu, 28, have all been found guilty of sexual offences.
Newcastle Crown Court was told the gang preyed on young, vulnerable girls between March 2015 and May 2019.
Some of the horrific attacks took place in a park, while others were at a “prostitute’s house”.
The court was told four of the men are Romanian and one is Albanian.
Prosecutor Anne Richardson said: “Some of the girls who make these allegations were, the Crown submits, were immature, vulnerable, seeking to please.
“The Crown’s case is these personality traits were exploited by some of the defendants, to a greater or lesser extent and a number of the complainants were bought or given alcohol and or cigarettes in exchange for sexual favours.”
Klaudio Aleksiu, 28, was found guilty of rape, while Stefan Ciuraru, 22, was convicted of four counts of sexual assault, sexual activity with a child, and causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
Codrin Dura, 27, was found guilty of four counts of rape, four counts of sexual activity with a child, blackmail, attempted rape, serious sexual assault, supplying a Class A drug, and arranging or facilitating commission of a child sex offence.
Bogdan Gugiuman, 44, was convicted of three counts of rape and supplying a Class A drug, while Leonard Paun, 23, was found guilty of five counts of rape and two counts of arranging or facilitating commission of a child sex offence.
Paun was also convicted of sexual activity with a child, sexual assault, supplying a Class A drug, distributing photos of a child.
The gang will be sentenced at a later date. A sixth man was cleared of all charges.
Senior Investigating Officer Detective Chief Inspector Graeme Barr said: “Firstly, I want to start by praising the bravery, composure and dignity of the victims in this case.
“This has been a complex investigation which has taken time and support will continue to be available to them.
“Every child has the right to grow up safe from harm but for these girls their childhood was snatched from them in the cruellest of ways.
“The perpetrators in this case have committed horrific offences for which they have now been found guilty.
“I would like to further thank my colleagues and partners who worked tirelessly to help ensure they were brought to justice.”
PABogdan Gugiuman was among the five men convicted today[/caption]
PACodrin Dura was found guilty of four counts of rape[/caption]
PALeonard Paun was also convicted of a string of sex offences[/caption]
PAStefan Ciuraru is also facing jail following a trial[/caption]
PAKlaudio Aleksiu was found guilty of rape[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
