A teenager shared vodka with a younger girl before sexually assaulting her in woodland near a running track in County Durham, a court heard.

Tyler Mark Thomas Cummins had suggested sexual activity with the “tipsy” teenager, but she refused, before he touched her chest over clothing, to which she did not consent.

Durham Crown Court was told Cummins asked the girl if she would report his actions to the police and said he would kill her if she informed anyone what had happened.

Jane Waugh, prosecuting, said the incident took place in Newton Aycliffe on an evening more than two years ago, when the victim was with a friend among a group of young people, including Cummins, who she barely knew.

(Image: Durham Constabulary)

The court was told the defendant had bought a bottle of vodka which he admitted having allowed the girl to drink from, but he denied having “plied her” with it, intending to get her drunk.

Miss Waugh said by the time of the incident the girl said she felt “tipsy” from the sips of alcohol.

Cummins had asked her how old she was, and, when he then went on to ask her to allow him to take part in sexual activity with her, she refused.

It was then that he reached out and sexually touched the girl against her will.

Miss Waugh told the court that the girl said she felt scared if she stopped him, but he did stop when others among the group of young people approached.

Cummins,18 at the time, but who is now 20, admitted charges of sexual touching and causing or inciting a girl under 16 to engage in sexual activity, at a hearing at the court on June 14.

He had previously denied both offences and other charges arising from the incident, with a trial provisionally listed for July 2.

But after his guilty pleas to the two charges were accepted by the prosecution, following consultation with the complainants, the case was adjourned for sentencing this week.

(Image: Durham Constabulary)

In an impact statement, the victim said following the incident she did not like to be alone leaving the house and always wanted to be accompanied in case she bumped into the defendant.

She said she had been nervous giving her police interview and suffered nightmares for a long time afterwards, as well as being stressed when court appearances approached, all of which affected her school work.

The girl said she felt generally less sociable, as a result, but added that it felt like, “a big weight was lifted” when she was told of Cummins’ guilty pleas.

Miss Waugh said the defendant, previously of Mitford Gardens, Wallsend, and now said to be of no fixed abode, has five convictions for 11 offences, but none of a sexual nature.

She said three of those offences post-dated the incident for which he is now before the court.

(Image: The Northern Echo)

Helen Towers, for Cummins, said he has been remanded in custody since March 1 this year, so has already been “inside” for five-and-a-half months.

Judge Peter Armstrong told Miss Towers that, given the defendant’s age at the time, he would be considering a one-year sentence for the offences, but added that the threats made afterwards, were an “aggravating factor”.

He told Cummins that he was of the view that in that wooded area he had hoped to have consensual sexual activity with the girl, who had made it clear she was not consenting.

“She was vulnerable due to her age and the dark in that wooded area where you were there with her.

“She was worried about her position, with the aggravating feature of the threats.

“It’s so serious only a custodial sentence can be justified, but you have spent a considerable time in custody already, which is significant given your age.”

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He passed a 12-month young offenders’ custodial sentence, and made Cummins subject of a two-year restraining order, forbidding contact or approaches to the girl.

Cummins must also register as a sex offender for ten years.

He will also be subject the restrictions under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, also for ten years.