JAMIE NICHOLLS FROM CHESTERFIELD CAUGHT IN DERBY PAEDOPHILE HUNT

In April 2021, a disturbing incident unfolded in Derby involving a man known as Jamie Nicholls, who was caught in a sting operation conducted by vigilant paedophile hunters. The incident took place in the Mackworth area, where Nicholls, who resides in Chesterfield, was ultimately apprehended after engaging in online conversations with what he believed were underage girls.

According to court proceedings at Derby Crown Court, Nicholls, aged 44, used the alias 'Sir Jim 76' during his online interactions. He targeted individuals he thought were minors, encouraging them to perform sexual acts and send explicit photographs. The court heard that he explicitly asked for pictures and made inappropriate sexual comments, demonstrating a clear intent to exploit the minors he believed he was communicating with.

When questioned by authorities following his arrest, Nicholls claimed he was in Prince Charles Avenue, Derby, intending to meet a 26-year-old woman, not a child. However, during the investigation, it was revealed that the conversations he engaged in were with decoys posing as girls aged 12 and 13. These decoys were part of the paedophile hunter groups that had entered into online chats with Nicholls over several months, during which he persistently requested explicit images and made sexual remarks.

Fergus Malone, prosecuting, detailed that the police were alerted to Nicholls's activities on December 30, 2019, after a phone call from a member of the public. The caller reported that Nicholls was being surrounded by a group of activists outside a Co-op store on Prince Charles Avenue in Mackworth, Derby, who were confronting him about his online behavior. Following this report, police arrested Nicholls and launched an investigation that confirmed his communication with two child decoys in 2019.

In court, Nicholls pleaded guilty to six counts of attempting to engage a child in sexual communication. The judge, Jonathan Bennett, emphasized the seriousness of the case, noting that the offending spanned several months and involved multiple victims. He pointed out that Nicholls had asked for photographs and expressed a desire to touch the victims' bodies, highlighting the predatory nature of his actions.

Given the circumstances, Judge Bennett sentenced Nicholls to a two-year community order. As part of this sentence, he is required to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and attend 35 rehabilitation sessions aimed at addressing his behavior. Additionally, Nicholls was placed on the Sex Offender Register for a period of ten years and issued a 10-year sexual harm prevention order to restrict his future activities.

Furthermore, Nicholls was ordered to pay costs amounting to £340 and a victim surcharge of £90. The court's decision underscores the gravity of his offenses and the importance of ongoing monitoring and intervention to prevent further harm.