Former Newcastle Councillor Found Guilty After Sexual Assault Trial

A former Newcastle city councillor has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman after a trial at Newcastle Magistrates' Court, bringing renewed attention to issues surrounding consent, abuse of power, and public trust in elected representatives.

Thom Campion, 28, who previously served on Newcastle City Council and later stood as a parliamentary candidate in the North East, was convicted after a judge rejected his claims that the encounter had been consensual.

The case centred on an incident that took place at Campion's home on Newcastle Great Park in March 2023. The court heard allegations that Campion persuaded the woman to go upstairs before carrying out a series of unwanted sexual acts despite her repeatedly telling him she did not consent.

District Judge Paul Currer found Campion guilty of sexual assault following the trial and said he was satisfied the victim had made her position clear throughout the encounter.

Court Hears Details Of Newcastle Assault Allegation.

Prosecutors told the court that Campion had initially met the woman after contacting her online through the subscription platform OnlyFans.

During the hearing, the victim described being invited upstairs under the pretence of being shown a teddy bear. Once inside the bedroom, she alleged that Campion became physically aggressive and ignored her repeated objections.

The court heard claims that she was pushed onto a bed, restrained, and subjected to unwanted sexual contact. Prosecutors said the woman repeatedly told Campion she did not want the activity to continue.

According to evidence presented during the trial, the incident escalated further when she was allegedly pulled from the bed by her hair and subjected to degrading treatment.

Judge Currer concluded that the victim's account was credible and consistent, ultimately rejecting the defence's version of events.

Defence Claims Rejected By Judge.

Campion denied the allegation throughout the proceedings and maintained that all sexual activity had been consensual.

Giving evidence, he told the court that he had invited the woman upstairs to view a piece of sexually explicit clothing he had recently purchased rather than a teddy bear.

He claimed that both parties willingly engaged in intimate activity and insisted he would have stopped immediately had the woman asked him to do so.

Campion also disputed suggestions that he had physically overpowered the complainant.

However, after hearing evidence from both sides and reviewing the circumstances surrounding the case, Judge Currer ruled that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

In delivering his verdict, the judge stated that the woman had repeatedly said "no" and that the sexual acts took place without her consent.

Why The Victim Decided To Report The Incident.

The court heard that the woman did not initially report the alleged assault to police.

Instead, she later decided to come forward after seeing Campion working at a Liberal Democrat stall at Jesmond Market in Newcastle.

Prosecutors said the sight of Campion in a public-facing political role influenced her decision to speak out.

The victim told police she felt concerned that someone in a position of influence and authority remained active in public life.

Party officials were informed of the allegations before police became involved and a formal investigation was launched.

Newcastle Political Career Comes Under Scrutiny.

Campion was elected to Newcastle City Council in 2021 and initially represented the Liberal Democrats before later sitting as an independent councillor.

His political profile extended beyond local government. He stood as a parliamentary candidate for the Cramlington and Killingworth constituency during the 2024 General Election and had previously contested the Blyth Valley seat in 2019 under the name Thom Chapman.

Although he remained active in politics for several years, he did not seek re-election during Newcastle's local elections in May.

The conviction now raises further questions about accountability and public confidence in elected representatives across the region.

Sexual Assault Reporting Remains A National Issue.

The case also highlights wider concerns about sexual violence reporting across England and Wales.

According to the Crime Survey for England and Wales, many victims of sexual offences do not immediately report incidents to police, with fear, trauma, embarrassment and concerns about being believed among the most commonly cited reasons.

Data published by the Office for National Statistics has also shown that women remain disproportionately affected by sexual offences, with thousands of incidents reported nationwide each year.

Experts have long argued that increased awareness campaigns and improved victim support services are helping more survivors come forward, even months or years after an alleged offence occurred.

The Newcastle case reflects those broader national trends, particularly where victims encounter alleged offenders in positions of authority or public prominence after an incident has taken place.

Sentencing Hearing Scheduled.

Following the guilty verdict, Campion was granted bail ahead of a future sentencing hearing.

Judge Currer said additional information was required before a sentence could be imposed and ordered a pre-sentence report to be prepared by the Probation Service.

The report will examine Campion's background and personal circumstances before the court determines the appropriate punishment.

A sentencing date is expected to take place in the coming weeks at Newcastle Magistrates' Court.

What are your thoughts on this latest Newcastle court case?