April 2022

Newcastle karate coach caught with hundreds of indecent images of children sentenced

A karate coach in Newcastle has been sentenced after being caught with more than 100 indecent images and sexual grooming of a child

Jordan McCarthy-Simmonette was arrested in October 2019 after detectives received information the 24-year-old had been talking to someone he believed was a 14-year-old boy online.

However, he was actually in contact with a registered sex offender, who was the subject of a separate ongoing police investigation.

A tablet and mobile phone were seized from his home following his arrest and officers found 109 images stored on the devices.

McCarthy-Simmonnette was charged with attempted sexual communication with a child and possession of indecent images of children.

Following his arrest, the 24-year-old was removed from his role as coach and appropriate measures were put in place.

McCarthy-Simmonette, from Heaton, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court where he was sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years, after previously pleading guilty.

He was also given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for seven years and placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for 10 years.