Dunamanagh man to stay on probation after child sex conviction

A 29-YEAR-OLD man who sent a sexually-explicit image to a child has been allowed to remain on probation, a court has heard.

Jack Dougherty, of Lisnaragh Road, Dunamanagh, was sentenced at Dungannon Crown Court on Friday for sexually communicating with a child under the age of 16.

The court heard that between 2021 and early 2022, Dougherty engaged in inappropriate contact with a teenage girl on four separate occasions.

The child, who knew Dougherty, alerted her mother in January 2022.

Judge Brian Sherrard outlined the contents of the communications, which formed the basis of the four charges.

On September 30, 2021, Dougherty made a comment about the girl’s clothing, texting, ‘I like that, I would ask you to cover up but for what good’.

Later messages included him stating he masturbated to her and suggesting they shower together.

The judge said the most serious incident occurred on December 10, when Dougherty sent the girl a photo of his genitals.

Judge Sherrard also noted that Dougherty was previously sentenced in December 2023 for possession of child pornography.

However, the timeframe of offending matched the same timeframe of the sexual communication offences.

The judge said that had both cases been addressed together, a harsher penalty would have been likely.

However, a pre-sentence report highlighted Dougherty’s borderline learning disability and low risk of reoffending.

Dougherty, already under a probation order for the earlier offence, was described as making good progress by his probation officer.

Judge Sherrard imposed an additional three years of probation, emphasising that probation involves significant restrictions on Dougherty’s life and serves as an opportunity for rehabilitation.

A five-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order was also issued.