STRABANE MAN JONATHAN HYNDMAN SENTENCED FOR MOLESTATION OF 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN OMAGH

In a case that has shocked the community of Strabane, Jonathan Hyndman, a 27-year-old resident of Carlton Drive, was sentenced to a year in prison for the sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl. The incident, which took place in the nearby town of Sion Mills, has brought to light disturbing details about the offender's actions and the subsequent investigation.

Hyndman appeared before Omagh Crown Court on a Friday, where he pleaded guilty to charges of sexually touching the young girl and engaging in acts of 'revolting penetration.' The court was informed that Hyndman, who has been described as having a 'low IQ,' brought a rucksack with him to court, apparently expecting to be incarcerated. His sentencing included a 12-month prison term, a 10-year registration on the sex offenders register, and an order to serve 16 months on license following his release.

The court proceedings revealed that Hyndman initially approached the girl near a playpark in Strabane on March 27 of the previous year. At the time, she was only 14 years old. He struck up a conversation with her, then asked her to go for a walk. During their interaction, he kissed her, claiming he could not resist her, and then proceeded to touch her inappropriately. The young girl later told police that she was too frightened to refuse him, fearing he might 'flip,' and admitted she had never experienced anything like this before.

Following this encounter, the two exchanged phone numbers and continued to communicate via text messages over the next two weeks. Their conversations became increasingly sexual in nature, leading to further plans to meet. The girl, seeking to avoid Hyndman, asked a friend of her mother to accompany her to meet him in Sion Mills. However, the friend's suspicions grew, and she alerted the girl's parents to the situation.

On April 4, Hyndman and the girl met again in Sion Mills. During this meeting, he touched her intimately and professed his love for her. Despite her attempts to push him away, Hyndman persisted and performed multiple sex acts on her. The girl later told police that Hyndman was 'too strong' to push off and that he continued his actions even after she explicitly told him to stop. Her parents, alarmed by her account, contacted the police, leading to Hyndman's arrest and subsequent court proceedings.

The case underscores the serious nature of the offenses committed by Hyndman and highlights the importance of vigilance and prompt reporting in protecting vulnerable minors from sexual exploitation and abuse.