A 34-year-old man from Darlington in County Durham has been given an additional four years in prison for child abuse. George Bellwood was sentenced at Durham Crown Court on 24 February 2026 after a second survivor contacted the police with new allegations.
Bellwood was already serving a 21-year jail term for raping a child under the age of 13 at least 25 times. This previous conviction in 2024 encouraged another victim to come forward and report historic abuse to Durham Constabulary.
The new sentence follows five further counts of sexual assault against a different girl. Detective Sergeant Melissa Lamb, who led the investigation for the police, praised the young woman for her bravery in speaking out about what had happened to her.
Police officials said the extra prison time ensures a dangerous offender stays off the streets for a longer period. The case highlights the commitment of the authorities to investigate older crimes even when the person responsible is already behind bars.
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