Frankie Nielsen 38

Description

Detectives have praised the courage of a victim-survivor of child sexual offences as she describes the ‘everyday trauma’ she lives with.

Frankie Nielsen, 38, initially sent sexually explicit messages to the secondary school-aged girl.

However, the abuse escalated and he then went on to sexually assault the victim-survivor twice.

Now, the girl describes how she has gone from feeling ‘safe in her everyday life’ to ‘disgusted and too scared to tell her family’.

The long-term impact of Nielsen’s offending was heard in the victim-survivor’s personal statement, which was read before he was sentenced yesterday (Tuesday).

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.”

After being arrested by officers, in interview, Nielsen admitted ‘I hold me hands up to sending some stupid messages’ – however 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.

And in July this year, he was convicted at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court of three offences: two counts of sexual assault and one count of sexual communication with a child.

Yesterday morning (Tuesday), he appeared at Newcastle Crown Court, where he was sentenced to 20 months' imprisonment, suspended for two years.

As part of his sentence, Nielsen will spend 10 years on the Sex Offenders’ Register, was handed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and was handed a lifelong restraining order.

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 who has shown immense courage from making that first report all the way through to sentencing today.”

She continued: “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.”