Grooming gang sentenced for targeting Gateshead girls
Victims of a grooming gang who plied underage girls in Gateshead with drink and drugs before sexually exploiting them told a judge of the devastating impact it has had on them.
Last updated 12th Dec 2025
Five members of a grooming gang have been sentenced to between 18 months and 14 years each after teenage girls in Gateshead were given drugs and alcohol and then sexually exploited.
Northumbria Police launched an inquiry into offending against six victims between 2014 and 2019, centred on the Saltwell Park area of Tyneside.
Officers uncovered exploitation of girls aged between 13 and 16, leading to multiple rape charges being brought.
An eight-week trial at Newcastle Crown Court that finished in October ended with convictions for four Romanians and an Albanian, who lived in the Bensham area at the time.
They were:
Klaudio Aleksiu, 28, of Church Terrace, Windsor, who was found guilty of rape - he was jailed for 6 years.
Stefan Ciuraru, 22, of Brinkburn Avenue, Gateshead, who was found guilty of four counts of sexual assault, sexual activity with a child, and causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity - he was jailed for 18 months, due to his youth at the time of offending.
Codrin Dura, 27, of Ripon Street, Gateshead, who 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 - he was jailed for 13 years.
Bogdan Gugiuman, 44, of Westbourne Avenue, Gateshead, who was found guilty of three counts of rape, and supplying a class A drug - he was jailed for 14 years.
Leonard Paun, 23, of Windsor Avenue, Gateshead, who was found guilty of five counts of rape, two counts of arranging or facilitating commission of a child sex offence, sexual activity with a child, sexual assault, supplying a class A drug, distributing photos of a child - he was jailed for 5 years and one month.
At the time, Senior Investigating Officer Detective Chief Inspector Graeme Barr said: "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."
Charlotte Dennison, head of the Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) Unit at CPS North East, said some of the victims were plied with drink and drugs.
She said: "For some of the victims, what began as a relationship with one person descended into them being passed between group members, where they were routinely abused while heavily intoxicated."
The judge has made the point that all 5 men were in the country legally.
Passing sentence at Newcastle Crown Court, Judge Tim Gittins said the nationality of the four Romanians and an Albanian who lived in the Bensham area of the town was "irrelevant".
The judge said: "The information the court has is you all came to this country legally, most as children, and have stayed legitimately.
"Whatever others may think, your nationality is irrelevant to the sentencing process.
"You must understand however, that someone who comes to this country as a guest or as a permanent resident are subject to the same standards and penalties as a British citizen for contraventions of the criminal law."