JAMIE KIRKMAN'S SHOCKING CRIME IN MATLOCK: TEEN VICTIM'S TRUST BETRAYED

In March 2017, a distressing case emerged involving a young girl from Derbyshire who fell victim to a serious sexual offense committed by an older man, Jamie Kirkman. The girl, who is legally protected from identification due to her age, described a profound transformation in her personality following the incident. Once a lively and cheerful individual, she now finds herself frequently irritable and angry, a change she attributes directly to the trauma she endured.

According to court proceedings, Kirkman, who was 19 at the time, engaged in a series of manipulative actions that led to the girl being exploited sexually. The court heard that the two initially met after communicating via social media, where they began exchanging messages and eventually arranged to meet in person in Matlock. During their encounter, they shared affectionate gestures such as hugging, kissing, and cuddling. However, the situation escalated beyond innocent contact when Kirkman persuaded the girl to engage in sexual activity.

It was revealed that Kirkman convinced the girl to have sex with him, despite her apparent reluctance, and later admitted to police that he knew his actions were wrong. The girl, who was in her early teens at the time, confided in her mother about what had transpired. Her mother promptly contacted law enforcement authorities, leading to Kirkman's arrest. Initially, Kirkman denied any wrongdoing during police interviews, but he later confessed to the crime and pleaded guilty to inciting a child under 16 to engage in sexual activity.

During the court hearing at Derby Crown Court, held within the Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court, prosecutor Sarah Allen detailed the events of that autumn in Matlock. She explained that the sexual encounter was the culmination of their social media interactions and that Kirkman’s actions were deliberate and manipulative. The court was told that Kirkman later claimed to have stopped the activity once he realized it was wrong, but his initial denial and subsequent confession confirmed his guilt.

Judge David Chinery sentenced Kirkman, of Radfords Row, Lower Lumsdale, Matlock, to a 16-month prison term, which was suspended for two years. Additionally, Kirkman was ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid community service, pay £300 in prosecution costs, and adhere to a sexual harm prevention order for five years. Furthermore, he was placed on the sex offender register for a period of seven years. The judge expressed regret over the case, emphasizing the importance of trust and the devastating impact of betrayal on the victim. He acknowledged Kirkman’s awareness of the wrongfulness of his actions but noted that he proceeded despite knowing better, breaching the girl’s trust and causing lasting harm.