Man jailed in the Island's first sexual grooming case

Sat, 26 Sep 2009

A 41 year old man from Douglas yesterday appeared before the Court Of General Gaol Delivery for sentencing.

Unemployed John James McCurrie pleaded guilty on three counts of sexual grooming.

McCurrie committed the offences earlier this year and late last year.

He had been involved in an inappropriate relationship with a young girl who at the time was only aged between 14 and 15 years old.

The police first became aware of the matter when information was given to them alleging that McCurrie was involved in a relationship with a minor.

On Friday Deemster Doyle jailed McCurrie for a total of 17 months. The Deemster also placed him on the sex offenders' register for 5 years

Detective Sergeant Cathryn Bradley says this is the first conviction for sexual grooming on the Island since the legislation was brought in three years ago. She added that the investigation had been difficult because the young victim was unwilling to co-operate with the Police. McCurrie had totally brainwashed the girl into believing they were in love with each other and she couldnt accept what he was doing was wrong.