NICHOLAS COLLIER FROM STOCKTON SENT TO PRISON FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES INVOLVING UNDERAGE GIRLS IN TEESSIDE

In November 2012, a serious case of misconduct involving a teaching assistant from Stockton has culminated in a prison sentence, highlighting the grave consequences of inappropriate behavior towards minors. Nicholas Collier, aged 27, was sentenced to two years behind bars after a court heard disturbing details about his actions and the risks he poses to young girls in the community.

During the proceedings at Teesside Crown Court, it was revealed that probation officials consider Collier to be a significant threat until he fully recognizes his attraction to underage girls and takes concrete steps to manage and control these impulses. The court also imposed a lifelong ban on him working with children and having any unsupervised contact with individuals under the age of 16. Additionally, Collier was ordered to register as a sex offender for the next ten years, a measure aimed at monitoring his activities and preventing further harm.

His conduct while employed at a school in the Teesside area has not only ended his career but also brought shame upon himself and his family. Collier’s actions have been described as deeply inappropriate and damaging, prompting a thorough investigation into his behavior shortly after he was appointed as a teaching assistant in Stockton three years prior.

According to court reports, Collier’s misconduct included kissing a girl after inviting her to his home following a night out where she was intoxicated. The two had previously exchanged mobile phone numbers, which facilitated their contact. The situation escalated when Collier engaged in sexual activity with another girl, with incidents occurring in various locations including the changing rooms of a leisure centre, his car, and his residence.

Prosecutor Ian Mullarkey detailed these offenses to Judge Simon Bourne-Arton, QC, emphasizing that Collier admitted to four charges of sexual activity with a child while in a position of trust. The court was also informed that Collier reasonably believed the girl he had sex with was over 16, a misconception that does not mitigate the seriousness of his actions.

During sentencing, Judge Bourne-Arton addressed Collier directly, stating, “Some girls, before they reach what might be termed ‘full maturity’ and while they are growing up and seeing what life is about, can develop crushes and become impressionable. That is a well-recognized fact, recognized, I have no doubt, by you, and you took advantage of it. I am quite satisfied that you set out to befriend those two girls and groom them in the sense that you wished them to become more pliable to your wishes, and, I’m afraid, your desires.”

The court also considered character references from relatives, friends, and colleagues, including those from a supermarket job, which painted Collier as “an otherwise perfectly decent young man.” However, the court’s focus remained on the gravity of his misconduct and the need to protect vulnerable minors from potential harm in the future. Collier’s actions have left a lasting impact on the community and serve as a stark reminder of the importance of safeguarding children from exploitation and abuse.