MATTHEW NICHOLLS FROM TADCASTER JAILED FOR PESTERING UNDERAGE GIRL IN YORK

In a case that has shocked the local community of Tadcaster and the surrounding areas, Matthew Nicholls, aged 40, has been sentenced to prison after engaging in a disturbing pattern of communication with a 15-year-old girl. The incident, which took place over nearly a year, involved Nicholls repeatedly sending messages and texts via Facebook, in which he made sexual advances towards the underage girl, fully aware of her age.

Prosecutor Chloe Hudson detailed the case in court, emphasizing that Nicholls’s actions were deliberate and predatory. The victim, in her personal statement, expressed the profound impact the ordeal has had on her life. She stated, “My childhood was taken away from me by someone I trusted.” She also revealed that the experience has left her struggling to establish meaningful relationships with others, highlighting the long-term emotional scars inflicted by Nicholls’s misconduct.

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Sean Morris addressed Nicholls directly, condemning his behavior. “You were pestering her for sex,” the judge said sternly. “I have no doubt that if she had agreed to your requests, you would have gone through with it. Fortunately, she had the good sense to reject your advances and to report your actions to others.”

Matthew Nicholls, who resides on Grange Crescent in Tadcaster, pleaded guilty to the charge of inciting a child to engage in a sexual act. This plea was entered on the day he was scheduled to face trial for a more serious sexual offence, which was left on file. The court’s decision means that while the more severe offence will appear on his criminal record, it will not be classified as a conviction.

As a result of his guilty plea, Nicholls was sentenced to ten months in prison. Additionally, he was placed under a sexual harm prevention order for five years and registered on the sex offenders’ register for a period of seven years. The court’s ruling aims to protect the community and prevent any future harm from the convicted individual, who has now been publicly held accountable for his actions in York.