A paedophile from Scarborough has been sentenced to two years in prison after admitting to sexually abusing two 15-year-old girls in the street and committing a burglary at the town's Grand Hotel.
The incidents came to light following reports to North Yorkshire Police. On 16 October 2023, between 8pm and 9pm, the two girls were walking along a residential road in Scarborough when Nathan Luke Collinson, 33, who was standing outside a house, shouted at them. The girls approached him, and Collinson proceeded to kiss and grope both of them simultaneously, as captured on CCTV footage. At one point, he sat on a wall at the junction of the street and molested them further. The girls walked away, but Collinson followed them at a distance of about 15 metres. They eventually returned, and all three entered a nearby house, though a woman inside later told police that nothing untoward occurred there.
The girls reported the abuse to police on 23 October 2023, providing Collinson's nickname. He was arrested on 13 November 2023, during which officers found cannabis in his possession. Both girls identified him in a police identification procedure. Collinson, who has no fixed address, has a extensive criminal history, including 83 previous convictions, many for theft and commercial burglary. He had previously served a short prison sentence in 2012 for sexually assaulting a woman.
While on bail, Collinson committed another offence on 19 March 2024, breaking into a room at Scarborough's Grand Hotel in the early hours where a couple was sleeping. He grabbed £40 from the man's wallet, waking the victim, before fleeing. Hotel CCTV showed he had attempted several room doors prior to the successful entry. Eleven days later, on 30 March 2024, he returned to the hotel despite not being a guest, prompting staff to alert police who were already on site collecting evidence.
At York Crown Court, Collinson pleaded guilty to three charges of sexual activity with a child, one of burglary, and one of possessing cannabis. Prosecuting, Robert Stevenson outlined the details of the assaults and burglary. The Recorder of York, Judge Sean Morris, addressed Collinson directly, stating: "Men of your age need to understand you don’t start kissing and groping young girls." He described Collinson as a prolific offender. In mitigation, defence barrister David Camidge highlighted Collinson's difficult upbringing and struggles with alcohol and drugs, noting that he is a hard worker intending to seek employment post-sentence to address his issues.
The court imposed a two-year custodial sentence, placed Collinson on the sex offenders' register for 10 years, and issued a sexual harm prevention order for six years. This case was reported by the York Press, with details sourced from the court hearing.