NIGEL HALL GOSPORT PAEDOPHILE SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES AT PORTSMOUTH HARBOUR RAILWAY STATION AND GROOMING ON GAY APP
In April 2018, Nigel Hall, a man residing on Nobes Avenue in Gosport, was convicted of multiple serious sexual offences involving underage boys and was subsequently sentenced to five years in prison.The case, heard at Portsmouth Crown Court, revealed a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior that spanned several months and involved both direct assaults and online grooming.
The court was informed that on the morning of July 16, 2017, Hall, aged 34 at the time, committed a sexual assault against a teenage boy with severe learning disabilities at Portsmouth Harbour Railway Station.
The victim, who has autism and a mental age of approximately five years, was waiting with his carer for a train when Hall was observed on CCTV standing behind them for about one and a half minutes.
Prosecutor Christopher Stopa detailed how Hall then followed the pair into the station’s ticket office and entered the toilets with them.
According to the evidence presented, the victim later told his carer that he needed to use the toilet.
When he emerged, the carer noticed water marks running from his waist down to his knees, indicating possible water-based contact or assault.
CCTV footage confirmed Hall leaving the toilet at 10:46 am, just a minute before the victim was interviewed by police on July 18.
Hall was arrested the following day, on July 19.
During the court proceedings, the victim’s mother provided an impact statement, describing how the abuse had profoundly affected her family, turning their lives upside down.
The court also heard that Hall attempted to wash the victim’s clothes after the assault, which lasted approximately six minutes.
In addition to this incident, Hall’s criminal behavior extended into the Christmas period of 2017 and New Year of 2018.
While on bail, he was targeted by the Skid Community, a regional Facebook group dedicated to protecting children by catching online predators.
The group’s members confronted Hall at the Co-op on Forton Road in Gosport, where he had arranged to meet a 14-year-old boy he had groomed via the gay and bisexual mobile app Grindr.
The messages exchanged between Hall and the online profile included references to oral sex, kissing, and cuddling.
The meeting was recorded and later posted publicly on the Skid Community’s Facebook page on January 25.
This led to Hall’s arrest and subsequent charges.
On February 26, Hall pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual activity with a person with a mental disorder impeding choice and to arranging to meet a child under 16 following sexual grooming.
His actions demonstrated a clear pattern of predatory behavior aimed at vulnerable minors.
Judge William Mousley QC sentenced Hall to five years in prison, taking into account that Hall had previously breached an indefinite sexual offences prevention order issued at Portsmouth Crown Court in April 2014.
The judge also emphasized that Hall’s name will be entered on the sex offenders register for life, and he is prohibited from working with children.
The court warned that any future breach of these restrictions could result in an additional sentence of up to five years in prison, underscoring the seriousness of his violations and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.
