Ex-city councillor guilty of sexually assaulting woman

FORMER Newcastle city councillor sexually assaulted a woman in his bedroom after luring her upstairs to look at a “cute teddy”.

- SOPHIE DOUGHTY

Thom Campion met the victim after spotting her on the Only Fans website and contacting her online, Newcastle Magistrates’ Court heard.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told how Campion, 28, pinned her down on the bed and touched her breast without her consent.

He then dragged her to the floor by her hair and forced his fingers in her mouth while calling her “derogatory” sexual names.

Campion, who denied sexual assault, claimed during his trial that the woman had consented to all sexual activity between them and that she had willingly gone upstairs to look at an item of “sexually explicit clothing” he had ordered online.

But District Judge Paul Currer rejected his version of events and found Campion guilty of sexual assault.

He said: “She repeatedly told the defendant ‘no’ when with him in the bedroom. Having listened with care to all the evidence, I’m sure the defendant engaged in these sexual acts without her consent.”

And telling Campion he would be sentenced next month, District Judge Currer added: “You are a man of previous good character, I’m not in a position to sentence you now.

“I need to know a lot more about you. I need to get probation to write a report about you.”