Jordan McCarthy-Simmonette

Jordan McCarthy-Simmonette, a 24-year-old karate coach from Heaton in Newcastle, was sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on 20 April 2022 following his arrest in October 2019. The case came to light after detectives from Northumbria Police received information that McCarthy-Simmonette had been engaging in online conversations with someone he believed to be a 14-year-old boy. In reality, he was communicating with a registered sex offender who was under separate police investigation, highlighting the role of undercover operations in tackling online child exploitation.

Upon his arrest, officers seized a tablet and mobile phone from McCarthy-Simmonette's home, where they discovered 109 Category C indecent images of children stored on the devices. He was charged with attempted sexual communication with a child and possession of indecent images of children. Following the arrest, McCarthy-Simmonette was immediately removed from his coaching role, with appropriate safeguarding measures implemented to protect children in his care.

McCarthy-Simmonette had previously pleaded guilty to the charges. At the hearing, he received a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for two years. Additionally, he was issued with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order lasting seven years and placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for 10 years. These measures aim to restrict his activities and monitor his behaviour to prevent future harm.

Detective Constable Rob Smoult from Northumbria Police's Paedophile Online Investigation Team commented on the case, stating: "As a Force we are committed to keeping children and young people safe from harmful and dangerous online predators. In this case, McCarthy-Simmonette believed he was engaging with a 14-year-old boy and was unfazed by this. That behaviour is completely unacceptable." He further noted that the thorough investigation left McCarthy-Simmonette with "little opportunity to deny his actions" and expressed satisfaction that he had admitted his guilt. The police emphasised their ongoing collaboration with local authorities, schools, and youth groups to raise awareness of online dangers and promote child safety measures.

This incident underscores the hidden risks posed by individuals in positions of trust, such as coaches, and the effectiveness of police efforts in identifying and prosecuting online predators. Northumbria Police continues to urge the public to report any suspicions of child exploitation to help safeguard communities.