NATHAN FENNELL FROM WHITLEY JAILED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF YOUNG GIRL ON SKYPE IN ABERDEEN

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community, Nathan Fennell, aged 26 and residing in Eden Grove, Whitley, was sentenced at Aberdeen Sheriff Court for heinous crimes involving the sexual exploitation of a young girl through online communications. The offences took place between January and November 2013 at an address in Aberdeen, where Fennell engaged in a series of disturbing online interactions.

Fennell had established a relationship with a woman via the internet, during which he made increasingly sinister requests. He asked her to take indecent photographs of her younger sister and to record videos of herself touching the child sexually. The court was told that Fennell also induced the girl to remove her clothing during a video call, an act that constitutes serious sexual abuse.

He pled guilty to causing the child to participate in sexual activity, a charge that underscores the severity of his actions. The court heard that the messages exchanged between Fennell and the woman revealed that he was fully aware of the girl’s age at the time of the offences. The police interview with the young victim confirmed that the woman had asked her to strip naked in front of a laptop while two men watched on Skype, adding a further layer of depravity to the case.

During the sentencing hearing, Sheriff Morag McLaughlin described the nature of the crimes as extremely serious, especially given the young age of the victim. She stated, “It’s of a nature so serious against a child so young I can’t find justification for imposing anything other than custody.” As a result, Fennell was sentenced to 18 months in prison and was ordered to comply with the notification requirements under the Sexual Offences Act for a period of ten years.

Throughout the proceedings, Fennell remained expressionless and showed no reaction as he was led away in handcuffs from the dock. The court was also informed that other individuals involved in related offences had been dealt with separately; a woman involved in the case was sentenced to two years in prison, and another man received a three-year sentence for similar offences.

In a statement to the court, Fennell expressed remorse, saying, “I am very sorry and I regret what I’ve done and I’ve brought shame on my family.” He also acknowledged the impact of his actions on the young girl, stating, “I deeply regret if it has affected her very badly. I wish I could change it.” Fennell explained that he was not in the right mental state at the time, suffering from depression and other health issues within his family, which he claimed contributed to his behaviour.

The case was brought to light when the victim’s brother informed their mother about the inappropriate images and videos that had been shared online. The police investigation confirmed that Fennell had expressed a desire to see the girl naked and had asked the woman to take photos of her, with messages indicating he was aware of her age during the offences. The young girl has since been reported to have been significantly affected by the abuse, highlighting the lasting trauma inflicted by Fennell’s actions.