Lee Mason: How teenage girl’s Teesside rapist ended up behind bars

Judge Howard Crowson jailed Lee Mason for almost 13 years for the brutal attack on the teenager after the defendant took her to remote location and raped her.

Sentencing the defendant, he commended that officer’s actions in supporting the victim throughout the difficult investigation.

While the teenager publicly thanked the Cleveland Police officer when she made her victim personal statement at Teesside Crown Court.

“I hope the sentence you get will mean you pay for what you have done and put my mind ease,” she said.

“I do not know how I would have got through this without officer Alastair Crawford because he did an excellent job to get things done quickly, which has massively help me.”

The court heard how the officer secured vital CCTV and photographic evidence to enable the swift arrest Mason following the rape in April this year.

Lee Mason has been jailed for 12 years and six months for raping a teenager in Middlesbrough (Image: Cleveland Police)

Judge Crowson added: “These cases often take years to get to court, tragically, it can help in some small that the matter has not been delayed and I feel it is important to echo thoughts of the family and invite commendation for DC Alastair Crawford.

“That officer’s duty has exceeded merely investigating the crime with due diligence but also to ensure the family has been kept informed at every stage, to such an extent that they name him personally.”

Read more: This is the face of vile rapist who targeted teenage girl after a night out

Speaking after the hearing, Detective Inspector Dan Cook said: “This incident was traumatising for the victim and I wish to commend her for her bravery throughout the police investigation and subsequent judicial process.

“Lee Mason took the woman against her will whilst she was on a night out with friends and subjected her to a horrendous rape at a remote location.

“Mason has shown that he is a danger to young women and quite rightly he will now spend a significant amount of time in prison, where he cannot carry out further attacks. I am pleased with the sentence and hope that this goes some way towards helping the victim move forward with her life.

“Cleveland Police recently carried out a week of action to tackle violence against women and girls, where it was made that clear that we won’t stand for any form of violence against females in Cleveland. We take a robust approach to stopping any such abuse and this case is another example of this.”

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