Nov 2011

Jason Longstaff jailed for raping boy in Stockton

A convicted paedophile has been jailed indefinitely after admitting raping a nine-year-old boy on Teesside.

Former football club steward Jason Langstaff, 21, lured the boy into a community centre toilet in Stockton in March, Teesside Crown Court was told.

The court heard Longstaff, then 20, had fantasised about carrying out the rape and enjoyed the distress he caused.

Judge Howard Crowson said Langstaff, from Stockton, would be freed only when he was no longer considered a danger.

The court was told how Longstaff was trapped by DNA evidence after his victim told relatives what had happened.

His barrister Rod Hunt argued his client was too young to be regarded as a future risk, and said his guilty plea to rape meant he took responsibility for his crime.

High risk

But the judge said Langstaff was a “dangerous” man who posed a “significant risk” to the public.

Imposing a sentence of imprisonment for public protection (IPP) Judge Crowson said: “This was a nine-year-old boy targeted to fulfil the fantasies you had created in your own mind, against a background of previous sexual offending.

“I am concerned you feel you have urges you cannot control, and it is no surprise that the probation officer, in making an assessment of your future risk, describes it as very high.”

He must serve a minimum of five years and 344 days in jail before he can be considered for release.

The court heard Langstaff was convicted in 2006 for a sexual offence involving a two-year-old child when he was 15, and a further complaint was made three years later.

After the hearing, Det Sgt Jon Tapper of Cleveland Police, said: “The victim showed extreme bravery in coming forward to report the offence very quickly.”