Paedophile Crumbles Under Polygraph, Confesses to Child Rape – Jailed for Over 9 Years
A paedophile broke down and confessed to raping a child before even starting a lie detector test. David Nicholson, 46, admitted sexually assaulting a girl after agreeing to take a polygraph test – but he cracked under the pressure straight away.
Police Nab Nicholson After Online Sting
Nicholson was arrested in 2018 after an online child activist group caught wind of his plan to meet someone he thought was a 13-year-old girl. When Northumbria Police stepped in, he agreed to the polygraph test, only to confess to historic abuse before the test even began.
Victim Shows Incredible Courage in Court
The victim, now an adult, bravely spoke out during the investigation. At Newcastle Crown Court, Nicholson pleaded guilty to one count of rape of a child under 16 and six counts of indecent assault. On January 23, he was sentenced to nine years and four months behind bars.
“I had buried the memories of the abuse for so many years,” the victim said in a statement read to the court. “At first, I told the officer nothing happened and I wasn’t a victim. But after a lot of thought, I decided to tell the truth. I needed closure.”
She added: “I’ve struggled as a teen but I’m proud of the life I’ve made. He stole my childhood but not my adulthood. I hope he’s punished and that I can finally move on.”
Detective Praises Victim’s Bravery
Detective Constable Steve Hawkins saluted the victim’s courage: “It was understandably hard for her to speak out. With the right support, she made the brave choice to come forward. Her strength has helped put a dangerous paedophile behind bars. Nicholson is now off the streets, thanks to her bravery.”
