JASON HARKNESS FROM COOKSTOWN CONVICTED OF CHILD SEX OFFENCES AND INDECENT IMAGES

A resident of Drum Road in Cookstown, Jason Harkness, aged 30, has been found guilty of a series of grave criminal offences that include the sexual assault of a minor and the possession of an extensive collection of indecent images. The case, which was heard at Dungannon Crown Court, revealed disturbing details about Harkness's actions and the evidence gathered against him.

Harkness had denied all charges, claiming that the allegations made against him were false. The charges against him encompassed the rape and sexual assault of a child between the years 2019 and 2021, as well as the possession of numerous indecent images of children and extreme pornography. Throughout the trial, the court heard testimony and examined evidence that painted a troubling picture of his conduct.

Medical examinations conducted during the investigation uncovered physical evidence consistent with abuse, corroborating the victim’s account. The victim had disclosed that Harkness would send her messages, including the phrase “come to him for fun,” which prompted police to seize his mobile phones for analysis. The forensic analysis of these devices revealed a staggering collection of indecent images, totaling 1,651 images out of a larger hoard of 135,249 images. These images were categorized across all three levels of seriousness, with four classified as extreme pornographic content, highlighting the severity of the material Harkness possessed.

Further investigation uncovered that social services had previously requested Harkness to remove himself from the area to facilitate a care plan for the victim. However, he refused to comply with this request. Following his arrest, Harkness was initially granted bail under strict conditions, including a prohibition on possessing or using any internet-connected devices. Despite this, he later breached the bail conditions by having devices in his home. His partner claimed that these devices belonged to her and that Harkness had no access to them, but police found no evidence to support her assertion.

Harkness was re-bailed after the breach, and no further violations occurred. After a jury deliberated for just over four hours, they returned a verdict of guilty on all 15 charges brought against him. The defense acknowledged that these convictions would affect his bail status but requested his release to handle personal matters, arguing that he was likely to face a lengthy prison sentence.

However, the presiding judge, Brian Sherrard, emphasized the seriousness of the case, stating, “By any measure these are very serious convictions and the sentence will inevitably be custodial. The balance has shifted entirely. I’m against continuing bail and accordingly I am remanding the defendant in custody.”

Harkness was ordered to sign the sex-offender register, with the length of registration to be determined at his sentencing hearing scheduled for January 24. The case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement and social services to combat child exploitation and protect vulnerable individuals from harm.