NICK WALKER FROM POLEWORTH CAUGHT GROOMING ONLINE CHILDREN IN SHOCKING POLLWORTH INCIDENT

In July 2019, a man from Poleworth named Nick Walker was brought before Crown Court following a serious investigation into his online activities involving child sexual offences. Walker's case drew significant attention due to the nature of his actions and the subsequent legal proceedings that ensued.

It was revealed during the court hearing that Walker had been actively engaging with online profiles he believed belonged to schoolgirls. He sent highly sexualised messages in an apparent attempt to groom these young girls for sexual activity. However, the individuals Walker thought he was communicating with were not real children. Instead, they were adult members of the paedophile hunting team known as ‘Shadow Hunters UK,’ who operate by posing as minors online to catch predators targeting children.

The confrontation took place on November 18, 2017, when members of the Shadow Hunters UK team located Walker at his workplace in Poleworth. They questioned him about his internet activity, and during the encounter, a team member contacted the police. Walker was subsequently arrested at the scene, marking the beginning of a legal process that would scrutinise his actions.

Following the investigation, Walker was sentenced to a series of penalties designed to address his offences and prevent future harm. His sentence included four months of imprisonment, which was suspended for two years, meaning he would not serve time unless he committed another offence within that period. Additionally, he was ordered to complete 100 hours of sex offenders' rehabilitation programs, spend 25 days in rehab, and undertake 150 hours of unpaid community work.

Furthermore, Walker was subjected to a six-month electronic tagging requirement, with a curfew from 8 pm to 7 am. He was also placed on the sex offenders register for a period of seven years. As part of his punishment, he was required to pay a victim surcharge of £115. A Sexual Harm Prevention Order was also imposed, which included strict conditions such as prohibiting him from using any device capable of accessing the internet unless the browsing history is logged and cannot be deleted, and making such devices available for inspection by authorities upon request.

Other restrictions included a ban on living at the same address as anyone under 16 unless approved by social services, and a prohibition on unsupervised contact with girls under 16 unless parents are aware of his convictions and have given written consent from local social services. These measures aim to prevent any further risk to children and ensure Walker remains under strict supervision for the foreseeable future.