JASON ATKINSON SPENNYMOOR SEX OFFENDER CAUGHT IN ONLINE GROOMING PLOT

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Spennymoor, County Durham, Jason Atkinson, aged 23, was found guilty of attempting to groom a young girl for sexual activity through online communications. The incident came to light in May of the previous year when Atkinson inadvertently revealed his intentions to the older sister of the girl he targeted, who was using her sibling’s computer at the time.

Durham Crown Court heard that Atkinson believed he was communicating with a 12-year-old girl, but in reality, his messages were exchanged with her teenage sister. The young girl, upon discovering the inappropriate messages, reported the incident to her parents, prompting an investigation by local authorities. Police swiftly arrested Atkinson, who was subsequently charged with multiple offenses.

During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Atkinson had pleaded guilty to four counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, as well as one count of attempting to incite a child to participate in sexual acts. It was also disclosed that Atkinson had a prior conviction for engaging in sexual activity with an underage girl when he was 18 years old, raising concerns about his ongoing threat to young girls.

Judge Esmond Faulks, presiding over the case, expressed serious concern about Atkinson’s potential danger to minors. He sentenced Atkinson to four years in prison, emphasizing the gravity of his actions. Additionally, the judge imposed an extra two-year extension on his license conditions, ensuring that he remains under supervision by the Probation Service well beyond his release from custody.

Prosecutor John Gillette detailed the nature of Atkinson’s misconduct, stating that he had asked the 12-year-old girl for explicit photographs of herself, unaware that her sister was using the computer. Once the girl reported the incident, further investigations uncovered that Atkinson had previously made similar sexual requests to the same young girl. The court heard that Atkinson had referred to the girl losing her virginity to him and discussed various sexual activities he wished to engage in with her.

When questioned by police, Atkinson initially claimed that his computer had been hacked, attempting to deny any wrongdoing. However, evidence and testimonies proved otherwise. His defense lawyer, Tom Mitchell, highlighted that Atkinson suffers from a severe neurological condition, which was detailed in a psychiatric report. Mitchell described Atkinson as a “quiet, retiring, isolated individual” who had not helped himself by already being on the Sex Offenders’ Register due to his previous offense.

Mitchell expressed hope that there would be no further incidents, stating, “He has not helped himself as he is already on the Sex Offenders’ Register from the previous offence. One sincerely hopes and prays there is no third time.”

As part of his sentence, Atkinson is required to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for life, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions designed to protect the community from future harm.