Craigavon nurse pleads guilty to serious child sex offences

A Craigavon nurse has pleaded guilty to a series of serious child sex offences. Marvin Jay Macauba, aged 36 and residing on Drumford Close, appeared in Craigavon Crown Court accused of multiple charges including attempted sexual communication with a child, attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming, incitement to distribute an indecent photo of a child, and sending an unwanted sexual image. During the hearing, he admitted to all four charges. The offences took place on July 9, 2024. The court was informed that the offences were related to a police decoy investigation, and defence barrister Conor Lunny highlighted that Macauba is a Filipino national who has been working in Northern Ireland as a nurse for over six years and has been suspended since these allegations surfaced. Macauba is awaiting sentencing scheduled for July 3, and he was immediately placed on the Sex Offenders Register. The judge emphasized the seriousness of the offences and advised him to engage fully with probation.