NICHOLAS COLLINGS BODMIN SEX OFFENDER AVOIDS PRISON AFTER GROOMING YOUNG GIRLS IN CORNWALL

In April 2021, a disturbing case involving Nicholas Collings, a 70-year-old resident of Berrycombe Road in Bodmin, came to light at Truro Crown Court. Collings was found guilty of sexually assaulting two young girls, acts that have left lasting scars on the victims and sparked concern within the local community.

Prosecutor Peter Coombe detailed how Collings engaged in grooming behaviors, notably by providing alcohol to the underage girls, both of whom were under 16 at the time of the offenses. The court heard that Collings’s actions included digital penetration of the first victim, as well as inappropriate touching such as placing his hand inside her bra and cupping her breast. Regarding the second girl, Collings was accused of slapping her bottom and squeezing her breast, acts that caused significant emotional distress.

Throughout the proceedings, Collings maintained a stance of denial. Despite entering guilty pleas, he claimed to the Probation Service that any physical contact was accidental. It was only later that he began to admit to the offending behaviors, though his initial denials cast a shadow over his remorse.

The impact statements from the victims painted a grim picture of the lasting effects of Collings’s actions. The first girl expressed that she was left “in a bad place” and required ongoing counseling, emphasizing that it would take many years for her to regain trust in men. The second victim described her life as irrevocably changed, feeling isolated and lonely, and stated, “He knew I was vulnerable and preyed on that.”

Judge Recorder John Trevaskis addressed the court, highlighting the significant distress caused to the victims. He pointed out that the grooming element was evident, given the supply of alcohol to the minors. Despite Collings’s lack of remorse and his role as the primary carer for his partner, the judge emphasized the importance of rehabilitation over punishment. He noted that sending Collings to prison would not aid his sexual conduct issues and would serve only as vengeance.

Instead, the court sentenced Collings to a two-year prison term, suspended for two years. Additionally, he was ordered to complete a sex offenders’ treatment program and was placed under a five-year sexual harm prevention order. The judge stressed the importance of addressing Collings’s behavior through treatment, aiming to prevent further harm and support the victims’ recovery.