NATHAN THOMPSON FROM LAMBERT AND GRANGETOWN ESCAPES PREDATORY CHARGES IN TEESSIDE

In a case that has drawn significant attention from the local community, Nathan Thompson, a young man from Lambert and Grangetown, was involved in a disturbing online incident that involved a teenage girl. The events unfolded in March 2015, when the girl, whose identity remains protected for legal reasons, was subjected to a series of inappropriate messages and images sent by Thompson via Snapchat.

According to court proceedings, Thompson, who was 18 at the time, engaged in more than twenty attempts to persuade the underage girl to engage in sexual activity. During their online conversations, he offered to pick her up in a taxi and pay for sex, indicating a clear intent to facilitate a sexual encounter. The court heard that he also sent her explicit photographs of himself, once stating, “all this could be yours,” in an apparent attempt to entice her further. On six separate occasions, Thompson encouraged her to reciprocate by sending explicit images of herself.

The girl’s mother discovered sexually explicit messages on her daughter’s phone, which led to Thompson’s arrest. Despite the serious nature of the messages, there was no physical contact between Thompson and the girl. When questioned by police, Thompson claimed he did not remember the sexual conversations and denied having any sexual interest in children.

Thompson, now aged 20 and residing at Langdale Crescent in Grangetown, faced multiple charges in connection with the case. He pleaded guilty to six counts, including two charges of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, two charges related to arranging or facilitating a child sex offence, one charge of causing or inciting child sexual exploitation, and one charge of possessing an indecent image of a child. This case marked his first criminal conviction.

During the sentencing at Teesside Crown Court, the judge decided to impose a one-year detention order, which was suspended for two years. As part of his rehabilitation, Thompson was ordered to complete 20 days of activity and pay £400 in court costs. Additionally, he will be required to register as a sex offender for a period of ten years, reflecting the seriousness of his offences and the potential risk to the community.

While the court acknowledged the nature of the offences, the judge’s decision to suspend the sentence indicates a consideration of various factors, including Thompson’s age and the circumstances of the case. Nonetheless, the community remains vigilant about the ongoing risks associated with such offences, and the legal process continues to serve as a reminder of the importance of safeguarding minors from online exploitation.