MALCOLM THOMAS PLYMSTOCK YOUTH WORKER SENT SORDID TEXTS TO TEENAGE GIRL IN PLYMOUTH

In May 2010, Malcolm Thomas, a youth worker based in Plymstock, found himself at the center of a serious misconduct case involving inappropriate communication with a teenage girl. The incident came to light when it was revealed that Thomas had sent a series of explicit and offensive text messages to the girl over the course of a week.

According to court records, Thomas, who was employed by the Mount Wise Youth Project in Plymouth, sent the girl a total of seven messages between October 27 and November 1 of the previous year. These texts contained highly inappropriate language, including calling her a 'slut,' referring to her as a 'saucy little minx,' and inquiring about her sex life. The court was told that these messages were as explicit as can possibly be imagined, raising serious concerns about the boundaries of a youth worker's conduct.

The court proceedings detailed that Thomas, residing at Broadland Gardens in Plymstock, denied any sexual intent behind his messages. Despite the nature of the texts, he maintained that his actions were not meant to be sexual in nature. The prosecution, led by Eoin McCarthy, explained that the girl had been taken on a group residential trip to London, during which she confided in staff about her low self-esteem. It was through this context that she provided Thomas with her mobile phone number, which he then used to initiate contact.

As the messages escalated in their offensive tone, the girl confided in her school staff, prompting an investigation. The matter was subsequently referred to police and social services, leading to Thomas's arrest and charges. The court heard that Thomas had admitted to sending seven indecent, obscene, or menacing texts, and he pleaded guilty at an early stage, which spared the girl from having to testify in a trial.

Judge Paul Farmer addressed the court, emphasizing the gravity of Thomas's actions. He stated, “To use the words you did, in my view, was totally inappropriate for a youth worker towards a girl. They were as explicit as can possibly be imagined.” The judge also noted that Thomas had no previous convictions and decided not to impose immediate imprisonment, instead sentencing him to a 16-week custodial sentence suspended for 18 months. Additionally, Thomas was ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work and pay £85 towards prosecution costs.

Furthermore, the judge imposed an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which prohibits Thomas from engaging in any work, leisure activity, or club involving individuals under the age of 16. It was also confirmed that Thomas had already resigned from his position at the Mount Wise Youth Project.

Jodie Baker, representing Thomas, highlighted his 20 years of experience as a youth worker but acknowledged that he had now “lost everything” due to the incident. She stressed that Thomas denied any sexual intent behind the texts, a claim supported by a psychologist’s report. Baker added, “He accepts what he has done is wrong and is totally ashamed.”

Overall, the case underscores the importance of safeguarding boundaries in youth work and the serious consequences of breaching trust and professionalism in such sensitive roles.