Crook child rapist Keith Lonsdale jailed for 21 years

Keith Lonsdale portrayed himself as a “stalwart of the community” as an athletics coach, a judge said, but committed “monstrous” acts against his child victim, raping her at least 27 times.

Disgusting Lonsdale forced his victim to eat her own vomit and committed other vile acts.

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He even tried to cover his tracks by forcing her to write letters expressing loyalty to him.

Lonsdale, 67, of High Hope Street, Crook, was found guilty of all 12 charges against him, including eight counts of rape, two of sexual assault and one of sexual activity with a child, last month (April 21) following a nine-day trial.

He was an athletics coach at Crook and District Athletics Club before resigning from the club after 40 years of membership in 2017.

Keith Lonsdale pictured in September 2007. (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

His brave victim read an emotional statement in court, describing the impact her ordeal had on her.

Battling through tears she told Durham Crown Court: “What he has done to me has broken me. I have suffered years of torture, punishment, and rapes.

“I cried myself to sleep. I was scared to ask for help to speak out. I punished myself thinking I must have deserved what had happened to me.”

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She detailed how she had suffered panic attacks and wanted to end her own life.

Sentencing Lonsdale to 21 years behind bars on Wednesday (May 25) Judge Jo Kidd told him: “You made her believe that in some warped way that it was her fault.

Keith Lonsdale. (Image: DURHAM POLICE)

“You had no shame, no fear and you wanted to exercise control.

“There were threats and blackmail. In an act of callous cynicism you coerced her to write letters in which she expressed loyalty to you as an insurance policy.

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“You portrayed yourself as a stalwart of the community. You were monstrous.”

The 67-year-old appeared in court via video link from HMP Durham and showed no emotion as he was sent down.

He was told he will have to serve at least 14 years of his sentence before being considered for release by a parole board.

Graham Laverick, chairman of Crook Athletics Club, said: "The whole of the club is shocked and disgusted by the actions of this man.

"Whilst an athletics coach licenced by England Athletics he was never involved in the delivery of any coaching sessions for the club. His coaching was limited to that on a private basis.

"For a number of years while the club was based in Crook he was a social member rather than a competing athlete. Since the club moved to Shildon Sunnydale in 2017 he has never been a part of the club and resigned his membership."