NIGEL JACKSON GROOMS GIRL IN LONDONDERRY: SHOCKING INTERNET CRIME IN NORTHERN IRELAND

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the community, Nigel Jackson, a former deputy head teacher, was convicted and sentenced for grooming a 14-year-old girl in Londonderry. The incident unfolded after Jackson, who was residing in Londonderry at the time, engaged in a sinister online scheme by posing as a fellow schoolboy on an internet chatroom, aiming to establish a deceptive connection with the young girl.

Jackson, aged 48, admitted to indecently assaulting the teenager in Londonderry, a crime that took place approximately a year after he had resigned from his teaching position at Seaford Head Community College in East Sussex. His residence was listed as Bowden Rise, Seaford, but the crimes for which he was convicted occurred during his time in Londonderry, highlighting the dangerous reach of his actions.

The case was brought before Londonderry Crown Court, where Judge Corinne Philpott delivered a stern judgment. She emphasized the serious implications of the case, particularly highlighting the risks associated with internet chatrooms. Judge Philpott remarked, "The case demonstrates the dangers of chatrooms. Life was certainly a great deal safer for young people when they simply communicated with each other directly. Every effort must be made to protect young people who use this form of technology."

Legal representatives for Jackson explained that their client had not engaged in any criminal activity until he began using the internet at the age of 46. They noted that Jackson had pleaded guilty and had fully cooperated with police investigations following his arrest. The court learned that Jackson, a father of two, was working as a supply teacher in West Sussex when he committed the sexual assault in January 2005.

Evidence presented during the trial revealed that Jackson and his victim had exchanged indecent photographs of themselves, further illustrating the manipulative nature of his actions. The prosecution acknowledged that Jackson recognized his behavior as manipulative and described his actions as "strange and unnatural," yet he did not believe that what he was doing was wrong. This disturbing attitude was considered particularly damaging, especially given the young age of the victim.

The court was informed that the case came to light after concerned students at the girl’s school contacted a teacher, who then alerted the police. The judge described Jackson as a "risk to society" and ordered that he be placed on the sex offenders register. In January, Jackson admitted to meeting a child following sexual grooming on two previous occasions before the assault on January 22 of the previous year. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of inciting a child to commit an act of gross indecency, with these incidents occurring between March 2004 and April 2005.

Detective Inspector Tara Nichol, from the CARE unit in Londonderry, highlighted the significance of the case, noting that it was the first of its kind to be prosecuted in Northern Ireland. She described Jackson as a "very dangerous and cunning individual" who used a false online persona to entrap the young girl. Inspector Nichol urged parents to supervise their children’s internet activity vigilantly and emphasized the importance of safeguarding young people from such predators.

Furthermore, the court issued an order prohibiting Jackson from teaching, tutoring, or having unsupervised contact with females under the age of 17. Sussex Police have also appealed to the public, requesting any other potential victims of Jackson to come forward and report their experiences. It was noted that Jackson was not believed to be on the Department for Education’s banned list, known as List 99, which tracks individuals barred from working with children.