SEAN NICHOLSON

PAEDOPHILE JAILED FOR ONLINE CHILD GROOMING

Sean Nicholson, a convicted paedophile, has been sentenced to 36 months in prison for attempting to communicate with a minor online.

The court heard that Nicholson, previously jailed in 2019 for possessing over 19,000 indecent images, breached a sexual harm prevention order when he engaged in a chat room conversation with an undercover officer posing as a 12-year-old girl called 'Izzy'.

During the investigation, officers discovered conversations on his mobile device and tablet where Nicholson identified himself as 12 years old but continued talking to 'Izzy'.

The discussions moved to Snapchat and WhatsApp, where Nicholson asked invasive sexual questions, shared a false photo of himself, and even suggested booking a room to meet for sexual activity.

Nicholson pleaded guilty to trying to engage in sexual communication with a child, breaching his previous orders.

The judge called him an 'unrepentant paedophile' who took pleasure in contact with the child and suspected he wanted a child for his fantasies.

Nicholson appeared via video link from prison, crying during the hearing, and was sentenced to three and a half years in prison.