REGAN CHARLTON FROM STOCKTON SHARES VILE FACEBOOK POST AND THREATENS FORMER FRIEND
In April 2019, a disturbing incident unfolded involving Regan Charlton, a resident of Stockton, who was found to have shared a highly offensive and threatening post on Facebook targeting a former acquaintance.The incident drew significant attention from local authorities and the court system, highlighting the serious consequences of online abuse and breaches of sex offender notification requirements.
According to court reports, Charlton, aged 19, who has a prior conviction for engaging in sexual activity with an underage girl when he was just 15, took retaliatory action against a man he had a dispute with.
The defendant posted an image of the victim on his Facebook profile, branding him a “nonce,” a derogatory term implying involvement in child sexual abuse.
This act was not merely a personal insult but escalated into a platform for violent threats and aggressive comments.
The social media post quickly attracted a barrage of hostile responses from other Facebook users.
Comments such as “sick f***ing c***” and “get him killed” appeared under the shared image, fueling a climate of intimidation and violence.
Charlton himself responded to some of these threats, notably stating, “I will even take you for a nice pint after I bury him alive,” which further demonstrated the severity of the threats and the potential for real-world violence.
The victim, as reported in court, was left profoundly frightened by the incident.
He became “very scared to go outside” and experienced heightened anxiety when in public spaces, illustrating the psychological impact of Charlton’s online actions.
In addition to the social media misconduct, Charlton faced charges related to his failure to comply with the legal requirements imposed on registered sex offenders.
Specifically, he was accused of three breaches: failing to notify authorities of an address where he stayed for 12 hours or more while a child was present, not informing police of his Facebook nickname “Reggie,” and failing to update his passport details.
The court proceedings revealed that Charlton’s original conviction stemmed from his sexual activity with an underage girl, which occurred when he was only 15 years old.
His defense attorney, Neil Douglas, argued that the breaches related to his Facebook nickname and passport were minor infractions.
He explained that Charlton used his full name on Facebook but had a nickname displayed underneath, and that his passport was out of date, used solely as a form of identification to prove he was over 18.
Mr.
Douglas also attempted to contextualize the malicious communications, suggesting that Charlton’s actions were influenced by his history of being a victim in similar circumstances.
He claimed that the revenge was unlawful but driven by a dispute, implying that Charlton’s conduct was a response to ongoing conflicts.
Magistrates, after hearing the case, decided to send the matter to the Crown Court for sentencing, indicating the seriousness of the offences and the need for a more comprehensive legal review of the case.
