DAVID NICHOLSON BLYTH CAUGHT IN DARK JUSTICE STING TRYING TO MEET CHILDREN IN SUNDERLAND

In a disturbing series of events that unfolded over several years, David Nicholson, a resident of Blyth, was involved in multiple criminal activities related to child exploitation and abuse. His actions came to light through covert operations conducted by Dark Justice, a group known for exposing online predators.

In August 2018, Nicholson was caught in a sting operation after attempting to meet what he believed were two underage girls, aged 13 and 15, on an online dating platform. The fake profiles were created by Dark Justice members to lure predators. Nicholson, then 44 years old and living at Gatacre Street, Blyth, engaged in conversations with the fake profiles, despite being informed of their true ages. He expressed a desire to meet the girls to engage in activities such as kissing, cuddling, and watching films together.

He arranged to meet the 13-year-old girl at Roker Terrace in Sunderland at 1 a.m., but instead of meeting the minors, he was intercepted by members of Dark Justice. The police were called to the scene, and Nicholson was promptly arrested. During the investigation, authorities seized his mobile phone, which contained 13 indecent images of children—12 classified as Category C and one as Category B—as well as three prohibited images of minors. These findings added to the mounting evidence against him.

Following his arrest, Nicholson faced multiple charges, including possessing indecent images of children, attempting to communicate with minors for sexual gratification, and possessing prohibited images. Recognizing the gravity of his offenses, he pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity. The court, in its judgment, opted for a community-based sentence rather than immediate imprisonment, emphasizing the importance of addressing his underlying issues.

Judge Ben Nolan QC sentenced Nicholson to a three-year community order. The judge highlighted that Nicholson’s apparent unhealthy fascination with post-pubescent girls needed to be addressed through specialized treatment programs. Additionally, Nicholson was subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for five years and was ordered to register as a sex offender for the same duration.

Earlier, in January 2020, Nicholson’s criminal activities took a more sinister turn. He was convicted of raping an 11-year-old girl, a crime he confessed to after being subjected to a polygraph test conducted by police as part of an investigation into his activities. The confession came after Nicholson, then 46 and residing on Gatacre Street, Blyth, had arranged to meet a girl he believed was 13 but was, in fact, a decoy set up by Dark Justice. When arrested in 2018, police found 16 illegal images on his phone, further evidencing his predatory behavior.

During the 2020 court proceedings, Nicholson pleaded guilty to charges of rape and three counts of indecent assault. The victim, now an adult, bravely provided a statement expressing her resilience and her efforts to lead a healthy life despite her traumatic past. She stated, “I haven’t let this man’s abuse destroy my life entirely. He stole my childhood but he has not stolen my adulthood.”

On Thursday, January 23, at Newcastle Crown Court, Nicholson was sentenced to nine years and four months in prison for the rape and related offenses. The court’s decision reflected the severity of his crimes and the impact on his victims. Throughout these proceedings, Nicholson’s actions have been scrutinized as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by online predators and the importance of vigilant law enforcement and community groups like Dark Justice in protecting vulnerable children from exploitation.