Youth worker to be sentenced after admitting number of child sex offences

A youth worker will be sentenced on April 12 after he pleaded guilty on the morning of his trial to three charges of intentionally touching a female under 18 while in a position of trust. 

John Patrick Paul Beckett (44) of no fixed abode had previously admitted a charge of sexual communication with a child on February 24, 2023.

He was due to stand trial today on three charges of sexual activity with a child on dates between January 1 and February 23, 2023.

A jury had been sworn in to hear the trial but this morning defence counsel Stephen Mooney asked that his client be re-arraigned on the three charges. 

When the charges were put to him Beckett pleaded guilty and the jury was told by Judge Neil Rafferty KC that their services would not be required. 

Due to his guilty pleas Beckett is required to sign the Sex Offender's Register immediately and the judge told him the duration of that requirement would be determined when sentence is passed. 

A pre-sentence report was requested and Judge Rafferty advised the defendant that that report would have a bearing on what ever sentence he passes.

He warned Beckett that the fact that he was being granted bail until the sentencing should not be taken as an indication that there would be a non custodial sentence as a custodial sentence was almost inevitable.