JONATHAN FAWCETT FROM LICHFIELD ESCAPES JAIL AFTER SEXUAL ASSAULT ON 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN NORTHERN IRELAND

In a case that has raised serious concerns about online grooming and the safety of vulnerable teenagers, Jonathan Fawcett, a man from Lichfield, was recently sentenced to probation after being convicted of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl in Northern Ireland. The incident, which spanned over two separate weekends in 2009, involved Fawcett traveling from his home in Staffordshire to Co Antrim, where he engaged in sexual activities with the young girl he had met through a bereavement support website.

Fawcett, who was 19 at the time, used the online pseudonym 'Fallen Angel Jon' to communicate with the girl, who was only 14 when they first started exchanging messages in 2008. Their initial contact was on a suicide support platform, as both had recently experienced the loss of loved ones. The communication quickly escalated from simple messages to private chats on MSN, where the tone became increasingly sexual. It was evident that Fawcett was aware of the girl’s age, yet he continued to pursue contact with her.

In May and July of 2009, Fawcett traveled from his residence on Manley Road in Lichfield to Northern Ireland, where he booked into a bed and breakfast in Co Antrim. During these visits, he engaged in sexual acts with the girl, who was then 15 years old. The court heard that Fawcett, who now is 26 and has autism, admitted to 18 counts of sexual assault related to these encounters. His sentencing took place at Belfast Crown Court, where he was handed a three-year probation order. The judge, Gordon Kerr, emphasized that the decision was influenced by Fawcett’s condition, which reports indicated posed a high risk of suicide if he were to be imprisoned.

Judge Kerr described the case as “exceptional,” citing various reports that suggested incarceration could be detrimental to Fawcett’s mental health. The judge also noted that Fawcett was undergoing ongoing treatment in England, and probation would allow him to continue with this support. Despite the leniency, the young woman, who has suffered significant emotional trauma, expressed her dismay at the outcome. She stated, “That’s not enough for what he did to me. He has ruined these last seven years of my life and I now suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, anxiety and depression.”

She further criticized the court’s handling of the case, pointing out that Fawcett’s autism was used as an “excuse” for his actions. “He was able to book flights on his own, arrange accommodation, and travel from England by himself,” she said. “He was capable of all these things but is supposedly unable to leave his house because of his autism. He groomed me, and he did what he did over those two weekends, yet he didn’t spend a day in prison for it. I believe he has gotten away with this.”

During the sentencing, Judge Kerr highlighted the vulnerability of the teenage girl and stated that Fawcett had taken full advantage of her naivety. The victim recounted feeling manipulated and threatened into meeting him again after the first encounter, fearing that he would tell her family if she refused. She also warned others about the dangers of online interactions, urging caution and vigilance. “You need to be really careful about who you talk to and how you can trust online. You really don’t know who they really are, so please be very careful,” she advised.

In court, Crown prosecutor Kate McKay described how Fawcett exploited the girl’s emotional fragility. She explained that during the two visits, the pair engaged in several sexual acts, including intercourse. The prosecutor noted that after these encounters, the girl felt like she had been treated as a sexual object. On the second visit, Fawcett was described as more assertive, which added to the victim’s distress. The girl did not disclose what happened until she reported it to the police at the end of 2012, and she has not yet confided in her family about the full extent of her experiences.

When questioned by authorities in June 2013, Fawcett admitted he knew the girl was only 14 when they met and that they had been in a relationship. He also acknowledged that he filmed one of their encounters, although he claimed to have deleted the footage. Despite pleading guilty, Fawcett’s defense attempted to minimize his culpability, but the court found the evidence of grooming and exploitation compelling. The case underscores the importance of vigilance when engaging with strangers online and highlights the devastating impact such abuse can have on young victims.