PAUL NICHOLLS FROM PONTYGWAITH RECAPTURED IN ESSEX AFTER BREAKING LICENCE TERMS

In October 2015, Paul Nicholls, who had previously changed his name to John Smith, found himself back behind bars after breaching the conditions of his probation license. The incident marks a significant development in a case that has garnered considerable public and legal attention.

Paul Nicholls, a man with a disturbing history, was initially released from prison in August of the previous year after serving only half of his five-year sentence. His release followed his admission to engaging in sexual activities on multiple occasions with a 15-year-old girl. The gravity of his actions was compounded by the fact that the girl, known publicly as Jackie for legal reasons, was only 13 at the time of the abuse. Her distress was further amplified by her frustration over the lack of transparency regarding the circumstances leading to his recall to custody.

Jackie expressed her outrage at the authorities' silence, stating, “I think it is disgusting they won’t tell me why he was recalled. He might have had a car and not registered it or he could have been standing at the end of my street. I should be told either way. If I am in danger I should be told and if I am not then I should be told.” Her concerns highlight the ongoing anxiety faced by victims and their families when authorities do not disclose specific reasons for such recalls.

Legal proceedings in February 2009 at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court revealed that Nicholls, a resident of Pontygwaith in Rhondda, had coerced a young girl into sexual acts at least ten times between June and August 2007. It is believed that he later targeted a second victim, with whom he also engaged in inappropriate conduct. During the trial, Nicholls promised the younger girl that he would cease his abusive behavior if Jackie remained silent. Despite this, Jackie testified that Nicholls had sex with both girls, describing the acts as “rape.” Both victims viewed Nicholls as a paternal figure, which added a layer of betrayal and emotional trauma.

Jackie, now a university student in England, recounted her traumatic experience, saying, “It feels like I am the one that has done something wrong.” She learned of Nicholls’s recall after receiving a call from the probation service while refueling her car. Her fears were palpable as she expressed concern that Nicholls might be lurking at her street’s end, which she found terrifying. “If he has been I would break down. It’s a scary thought. They should just tell me. I think it is ridiculous. I have done nothing wrong and I am sat here and I am panicky and all over the place,” she said.

Jackie also blamed Nicholls for her friend’s death, which she attributes to the trauma inflicted by him. She described her first encounter with Nicholls as terrifying, recalling, “I have never been so scared before. I remember him holding me down, I remember a lot of pain.” Nicholls had previously claimed that the texts he sent her were meant for a woman his own age, but Jackie insisted he had not admitted guilt and showed no remorse for his actions.

The judge overseeing the case described Nicholls as a “manipulative sexual predator,” emphasizing the danger he posed to the public. The judge also criticized Nicholls’s use of the Air Training Cadets as a grooming tool, noting that he believed the organization would protect him for its own publicity. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson confirmed that Nicholls was returned to custody after breaching his license conditions in Essex. The spokesperson explained that, under the Criminal Justice Act 2003, individuals serving a determinate sentence of more than 12 months are released on license at the halfway point, but must adhere to strict conditions. Breaching these conditions, such as curfews or restrictions on movement, can result in recall to prison, which is what happened in this case.