Youth worker jailed for sexual abuse of child

A youth worker has been jailed for sexually abusing a child in his care.

John Patrick Paul Beckett, from Barleyfields in Londonderry, admitted four charges including three counts of sexual activity with a child.

The 44-year-old also admitted one count of sexual communication with a child.

The crimes took place between 1 January and 24 February 2023.

Sentencing Beckett at Londonderry Crown Court on Friday, Judge Neil Rafferty said the case involved a breach of trust.

Beckett, the court was told, was a youth worker employed by the Western Health and Social Care Trust and was attached to a children’s home where the victim lived.

The court heard the victim, who was 14 at the time of the abuse, said in a statement things would "never be the same again”.

'Very vulnerable person'

Judge Rafferty told the court the offences were “a series of acts” that took place on a “very vulnerable person”.

He said the victim approached a social worker on 25 February 2023 and showed her a Snapchat post from the defendant that was “entirely sexual in nature and took place in the early hours of the morning”.

The court was told that when interviewed, Beckett admitted the message.

When the victim was interviewed, the court heard, she gave details of incidents where the defendant had taken her out and where sexual touching had taken place.

On one occasion Beckett had taken her to Benone beach and during “play fighting” had rolled on top of her.

The court heard Beckett was interviewed again and admitted the incidents, but said they were not sexual in nature.

Sentencing Beckett to 13 months in prison, Judge Rafferty said that the custody threshold had been passed.

He also had a sexual harm prevention order imposed for five years and must sign the sign the sex offenders register for 10 years.