STRATHFOYLE MAN JAILED FOR ONLINE CHILD SEX OFFENCES

Thomas Gerard Doherty, a 50-year-old resident of Garrymore Place in Strathfoyle, was involved in offences related to online sexual communication with a minor. He admitted guilt to attempting to engage in communication for sexual satisfaction with a female minor and was convicted. Doherty committed the offences on multiple occasions in May and June of the previous year. He was also registered as a sex offender for seven years and subjected to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order for five years. Court proceedings revealed that a woman affiliated with a child safeguarding organization reported that Doherty reached out to her pseudonymous Facebook account, seeking to establish a friendship. She disclosed that she and Doherty exchanged numerous messages over nearly a month, during which he claimed to be 13 years old and sent sexually explicit messages, including describing actions he would carry out if they met in a hotel. Upon arrest, Doherty stated he was an alcoholic with mental health issues, claiming difficulty in recalling his messages due to his condition. The judge acknowledged Doherty’s physical and mental health difficulties, his adherence to a self-imposed internet ban post-arrest, and his guilty plea and cooperation with authorities, which led to a suspended jail sentence. As part of his court conditions, Doherty is banned from using internet-enabled devices without prior approval from his risk manager.