Court / Man sent sexual messages to 14-year-old teenager
A THIRTY year old man from Staffordshire who sent sexually explicit Snapchat messages to a 14-year-old girl in Shetland has been put on the sex offenders’ register ahead of sentencing in July.
Jake Tuckwell, of Garfield Crescent, Stoke-on-Trent, tendered a plea of guilty to the charge when his case called at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie told the court how Tuckwell had been briefly introduced to the complainer who had been friendly with one of his colleagues.
He later engaged with her in a Snapchat conversation during which she informed him that she was just 14 years of age.
The fiscal described how over time the messages from Tuckwell became increasingly sexual in content.
He added that the complainer felt “extremely uncomfortable” with Tuckwell’s conduct and started screenshotting his messages.
She then confided in a colleague and eventually management became aware of what was going on, with the police then informed.
Defence solicitor Tommy Allan said his client was unable to be in court because he was “clearly not well” and had been seeing his doctor.
Sheriff Ian Cruickshank asked for criminal justice social work and restriction of liberty reports, and ordered Tuckwell to be in court for sentencing on 3 July. His name has been added to the sex offenders’ register as of today.
If you have been affected by crime, help is available. Whether you are victim, a witness, or the accused, you can find independent, impartial, and confidential support in Shetland.
For victims of general crime:
Victim Support Shetland
Phone: 01595744524 or 0800 1601985
Web: https://victimsupport.scot/locations/victim-support-shetland/
Email: VictimSupportHighlandsIslands@victimsupportsco.org.uk
For anyone affected by crime & harm seeking a restorative approach:
Space2face
Phone: 07564 832467
Web: https://www.space2face.org
Email: info@space2face.org
For anyone affected by gender-based violence, including domestic abuse, coercive control, stalking, sexual assault, and rape:
Shetland Women’s Aid
Phone: 01595 692070
Web: https://www.shetlandwa.org
Email: office@shetlandwa.org
The Compass Centre (Shetland Rape Crisis)
Phone: 01595 744402 or 08088 010302
Web: https://www.compasscentre.org
Email: contact@compasscentre.org
For anyone affected by substance use:
Shetland Recovery Hub and Community Network
Phone: 01595 744402
Web: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100075791869200
Email: recoveryhub@shetland.gov.uk
Shetland Alcohol & Drug Partnership
Phone: 01595 743060 or 07342 077789
Web: https://shetlandadp.org.uk
Email: shet.sadp@nhs.scot
Substance Use Recovery Service
Phone: 01595 743006
