NICHOLAS MURPHY FROM SPEKE SENTENCED AFTER GANG RAPE PLOT AGAINST THREE-YEAR-OLD IN LIVERPOOL

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Speke and the wider Liverpool area, Nicholas Murphy, aged 45, was found guilty of heinous online crimes involving the attempted sexual assault of a three-year-old boy. The incident came to light after Murphy, who used the online pseudonym ‘Horrible Nick,’ engaged in conversations via messaging applications to orchestrate a brutal gang rape of the young child.

Murphy’s online activities were uncovered when undercover police infiltrated a group of ten paedophiles using the anonymous messaging platform Kik Messenger. During their investigation, authorities traced Murphy’s location and executed a swift operation that led to his arrest at his residence on Upton Green, Speke, in September 2016. The police also seized his mobile device, which contained extensive chat histories revealing his sickening intentions.

Investigators discovered two separate sets of conversations on Murphy’s phone—one with two different men and another involving the entire group of ten paedophiles. These chats detailed plans and explicit discussions about abusing the young boy, with Murphy openly discussing how he could facilitate the attack. The police’s efforts culminated in a raid that dismantled the group and prevented a potential tragedy.

The father of the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, described the emotional toll of learning the full extent of Murphy’s depravity. Speaking publicly, he said: “At first, the police could only tell us what we needed to know for our son’s safety, but after he pleaded guilty they could release more information. It was just horrible. It makes you feel sick. They read to us the chat history of his conversations on Kik Messenger and there were graphic details of what he wanted to do to my child.”

He further explained: “He was using the name Horrible Nick, and was speaking to other paedophiles. There was a group of about 10 which was brought down by an operation where the police traced their locations. Knowing that it was all being planned, you can’t help but imagine what might have happened to your son had it not all been stopped.”

Following his arrest, Murphy faced a lengthy legal process. His initial plea was not guilty, but after psychiatric assessments and delays, he ultimately changed his plea to guilty. The court proceedings were emotionally taxing for the victim’s family, especially given the proximity to Murphy during court appearances. The father recounted: “Going to court was horrible. Being sat in the waiting room near him and being in court near him was horrible. All you can think about is what he said he was going to do to your son, it was absolutely horrible having to look at him knowing what he had said.”

On February 15, 2018, at Liverpool Crown Court, Judge Rachael Smith delivered a sentence that reflected the severity of Murphy’s crimes. He was sentenced to just three years in prison on three counts of attempting to arrange or facilitate a child sex offence. Additionally, Murphy was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life and was issued a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

The SHPO restricts Murphy from having any contact with children other than his own or immediate family members who have given him permission. It also bans him from using any internet-enabled device that does not store a copy of his browsing history and prohibits him from utilizing cloud-based online storage unless he provides police with access credentials. This case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat online child exploitation and protect vulnerable victims from predatory individuals like Nicholas Murphy.