JONATHON ATKINSON'S DARLINGTON CRIME: TEEN SEX OFFENSES LEAD TO TWO-YEAR JAIL SENTENCE

In May 2010, a young man from Darlington was sentenced to two years in prison after admitting to engaging in sexual activity with a girl who was only 14 years old. The case drew significant attention as it highlighted the serious consequences of inappropriate relationships between adults and minors.

Jonathon Atkinson, aged 21 at the time, was found to have developed a relationship with the underage girl after meeting her at a local park in Darlington. The court was informed that their interactions extended beyond casual encounters, with Atkinson meeting her multiple times at the school gates, raising concerns about the nature of their relationship.

Initially, Atkinson claimed that he believed the girl was 16 years old, a statement that was later contradicted by evidence showing he had met her at her school and was aware of her true age. Despite his claims of ignorance, the court heard that he had continued to see her over a period of three and a half months before ending the relationship. During this time, the girl was approaching her 15th birthday, and Atkinson was 20 years old when the offences occurred.

Prosecutor Shaun Dodds emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating that Atkinson's actions took place during a period when the girl was still a minor. The court was also told that Atkinson later told police he felt paranoid because “it wasn’t right,” which led him to terminate the relationship.

Scott Smith, representing Atkinson, described him as an immature individual who had become isolated after experiencing bullying during his school years. Smith explained that the relationship began as a friendship that eventually turned sexual, but stressed that Atkinson did not force himself upon the girl. Instead, he acknowledged that Atkinson had turned a blind eye to the obvious signs of the girl’s age and the inappropriateness of their relationship.

Smith further argued that Atkinson’s actions were a result of immaturity and poor judgment, and that he should have chosen a partner closer to his own age. The court was told that Atkinson did not use force but still engaged in sexual activity with a minor, which is a criminal offense.

Judge Howard Crowson addressed Atkinson directly, condemning his conduct. He stated, “You took advantage of your friendship to have a sexual relationship with her. You may be a man of good character, but you must have known when you started the relationship that you were doing something wrong. Your responsibility as an adult male is to join the rest of moral members of society in protecting young girls from forming inappropriate relationships with grown men.”

As part of his sentence, Atkinson was ordered to register as a sex offender for ten years and was prohibited from working with children. Additionally, a Sexual Offences Prevention Order was imposed, which prevents him from making contact with the girl for six years. These measures aim to protect the young victim and prevent any future misconduct by Atkinson in Darlington and beyond.