Judge Seeks Danger Assessment Before Sentencing Paedophile for Sexual Assault

A judge has requested a risk assessment to determine the danger posed by a paedophile before sentencing him for sexually assaulting a woman in the countryside. This marks the second time Nathan McCracken has been convicted of such an attack. He also has a prior conviction for a sexual crime against a child.

In 2020, McCracken was imprisoned for approaching a 16-year-old girl walking alone in Ryedale, grabbing her, and sexually assaulting her. At the time, he was on parole following his release from a prison sentence for attempting to incite a child into sexual acts.

McCracken initially denied the assault of the woman east of York and maintained his denial until the day of his trial at York Crown Court. However, he changed his plea after the victim appeared in court to provide evidence against him.

McCracken, 29, of Commercial Street, Norton, pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting the woman and violating a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) twice. The SHPO, imposed in August 2020 by Judge Simon Hickey, included a clause prohibiting him from approaching lone women in public. McCracken admitted to breaching this clause.

Judge Hickey, who had also sentenced McCracken for the 2020 attack on the girl, expressed his recollection of the case details. He ordered probation officers to prepare a report on McCracken, stating, "I want to know if the probation service has any view of whether he is dangerous." He also directed that the victim be heard from, saying, "No doubt it has had a great effect on her. People are entitled to go about in North Yorkshire and not be molested by people like you."

The prosecution, led by Simon Reevell, explained that the second SHPO breach involved a computer. McCracken was obligated to inform the police within three days of obtaining any internet-capable device, but he failed to do so. However, the computer was not used by McCracken before police seized and examined it.

McCracken remains in custody and will appear in York Crown Court on February 7 to receive his sentence. He faced a second charge of sexual assault, which he initially denied, but the prosecution decided not to pursue it after discussions with his barrister Michael Forrest. This charge will be left on file, meaning it will be recorded on his police record but will not result in a criminal conviction.