Newcastle paedophile Michael Burke cast shadow over three girls’ lives

Michael Burke, now 66, abused all three girls while they were school-aged.

He abused two of the victims in the 1990s, with his most recent offences committed within the past decade.

Northumbria Police launched an investigation after all three victims reported sexual assaults and rapes.

The woman said Burke overpowered them and sometimes assaulted his victims while they were asleep.

When arrested and questioned, he either denied the offences or repeatedly answered “no comment”.

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After a complex investigation by Northumbria Police’s Safeguarding Department, Burke, of Framlington Place, Newcastle, was charged with various counts of abuse.

He continued to deny the offences and absconded while on bail, forcing police to hunt him down and re-arrest him.

After a trial at Newcastle Crown Court in June, he was convicted of offences against all three women.

The convictions included five sexual assaults, two rapes and three indecent assaults. The latter offences took place before the Sexual Offences Act of 2003 came into force.

He was remanded in custody after the guilty verdicts and returned to court on Friday, September 18, where he was sentenced to 24 years in prison.

Judge Carolyn Scott also ordered him to remain on the sex offenders’ register for life and imposed lifelong restraining orders protecting all three women.

They each provided Victim Personal Statements, detailing the lasting impact of Burke’s abuse on their lives.

One said the abuse devastated her mental health, led her to attempt suicide and resulted in a PTSD diagnosis.

She said: “One of the worst and most long-lasting effects of what happened to me was the way it affected my understanding of consent, control and my ability to protect myself.

 “The abuse did not simply remain in my childhood, but it followed me into my teenage years and adulthood, influencing the way I behaved, the decisions I made and the way I viewed myself.

“For many years, I thought I had learned how to live with everything that happened.

“The trial changed that.

 “Having to revisit that period of my life has brought back memories and emotions that I had spent years learning how to manage.

“I have experienced sleepless nights and a significant deterioration in my wellbeing.”

Another woman said she saw Burke as “a very evil man” after the abuse.

She said the abuse left her struggling to sleep and lying awake for much of the night.

When she eventually fell asleep, she soon woke after dreaming about Burke.

“I could never then sleep as I thought he would get to me.”

She said: “The way I tried to deal with this was to just try and put it in the back of my head.

“I became so angry towards everyone.

“I was upset all the time and did not know who I could trust anymore.

“When we had the trial, I was scared, feeling we would not be believed and he would get away with it.

“Since the trial, I have had a lot of nightmares, in which I see his face and then wake up thinking he is on top of me. 

“In some of my nightmares I am back in court, but I am alone and he is the only other person there.

“I am struggling to sleep and should go to the doctors to see if they can help me.”

She added: “I hate Michael Burke for what he has done to me.

“I cannot put into words how much damage he has done.

“I have so much anger and hate towards him.

“He has caused that much damage we will never be the same again, because of what he has done to us all.”

Detective Constable Colin Lether led the Northumbria Police investigation.

Speaking after the sentencing hearing, he said: “Despite how much time has passed between the initial offending and the most recent, it has become clear that Michael Burke is a paedophile with a sustained interest in young girls.

“It’s evident from the testimonies of the victim-survivors just how much Burke’s offending has, and continues to, affect them.”

Det Con Lether added: “I am pleased that Burke’s horrific offending has finally come to light because these three women bravely came forward and allowed police to investigate.

 “All three have finally had the chance to put their abuser before the courts and to seek justice.

“I hope they can now move forward in whatever way they may be able.”

Anyone who has experienced sexual abuse, recently or in the past, should contact Northumbria Police through its website’s “Report” pages or by direct message on social media.

Read next … more court stories from The Northern Echo, by clicking here

Anyone unable to report abuse online should call 101.

Call 999 in an emergency or if a crime is ongoing.

Crimes can also be reported anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111 or visiting its website.