Police praise courage of ‘victim/survivor’ of Newcastle sex offender

Defendant Frankie Nielsen was said to have initially sent sexually explicit messages to the secondary school-aged girl.

But his abuse escalated and he then went on to twice sexually assault her.

The girl has now described how she has gone from feeling “safe in her everyday life” to being “disgusted and too scared” to inform her family.

The long-term impact of Nielsen’s offending was heard at Newcastle Crown Court in the victim-survivor’s personal statement, which was read before the 38-year-old defendant was sentenced on Tuesday (September 1).

Frankie Nielsen given suspended sentence for sexually assaulting and communication with a secondary schoolgirl (Image: Northumbria Police)

She said: “I no longer feel safe. I still cannot walk past the place where this happened on my own and I have never returned there alone.

“My trust in people, especially males, has never been the same.

“My self-confidence has dropped very low.

“The biggest change in my life has been living with this trauma every day and trying to put it behind me.

“What the defendant did was wrong. He has given me trauma that I will carry for the rest of my life.

“I want the court to know that the harm did not end when the crime finished.

“It continues to affect me, my family and the way I live my life.”

The court heard that when arrested by police and interviewed, Nielsen told them: “I hold me hands up to sending some stupid messages”, but he denied the assaults.

Following a complex investigation by Northumbria Police’s Safeguarding Department, in January last year, Nielsen, of Bentinck Villas, Newcastle, was charged in connection with the abuse.

He was convicted of three offences, two charges of sexual assault and one count of sexual communication with a child, at Newcastle Crown Court, in July.

The case was sent to the city’s crown court for sentence, where Nielsen received a 20-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

As part of his sentence, Nielsen will spend 10 years subject of notification requirements on the Sex Offenders’ Register, and he must observe the terms of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for a similar period.

A lifelong restraining order was put in place prohibiting him from contacting or approaching the victim.

Detective Constable Kerry Kane, of Northumbria Police, said: “It’s clear that Frankie Nielsen is a sexual predator who has an interest in girls.

“As always, my thoughts and appreciation go towards the ‘victim-survivors’.

“Here, she has shown immense courage, from making that first report all the way through to sentencing today.”

She said: “As a force, we’ll relentlessly pursue justice against anyone who looks to take advantage of children, who are some of the most vulnerable in our society.

 “No-one should ever have to experience this type of offending, but please know if you have, we’re here and we’re ready to listen.”

Anyone who has experienced any form of sexual abuse, whether recent or non-recent, should contact police using the ‘Report’ pages on the Northumbria force website, or send them a direct message on social media.

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For anyone unable to report this way, they should call 101.

In an emergency, or if a crime is ongoing, the message is to always call 999.

Crimes can be reported anonymously, via the independent charity, Crimestoppers, by calling 0800 555111 or by visiting its website.