July 2019

Paedophile ex-servicemen jailed

A former serviceman who sexually touched a girl under ten and pleaded with paedophile gangs to allow him to watch their ‘parties’ with young boys over the internet has been jailed.

Scott Robert Fitzgerald bowed his head as the Deputy Bailiff sentenced him to three years and ten months behind bars for his crimes that included abuse of a ‘very little girl’.

The Royal Court’s Superior Number, which convenes only for the most serious offences, heard how the 41-year-old told a man on an internet chatroom dedicated to people interested in abusing children that he had ‘tickled’ and got sexual gratification from bouncing the young girl on his knee. Fitzgerald was, in fact, speaking to an undercover police officer in the UK.

Following a tip-off, police in Jersey arrested Fitzgerald and searched his home. Ten indecent images of children, some falling into the second-most serious category, were recovered.

The former St John Ambulance volunteer had been on the States police’s radar before, it was heard.

In 2011, evidence emerged of sexually orientated messages he had exchanged with a teenage girl. That case never made it to court and he was, instead, given ‘words of advice’.

Fitzgerald, who was orphaned as a teenager, was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for a minimum of ten years and placed under stringent restraining orders limiting his contact with children.

March 2019

Man (41) admits child sex offences

A 41-year-old man has admitted to sexually abusing a young child and possession of indecent images of children.

Scott Robert Fitzgerald appeared in the Royal Court on Friday, where he admitted three child sex offences, including ‘sexual touching’, and possessing indecent images.

Fitzgerald was represented by Defence Advocate Luke Sette who entered ‘guilty’ pleas on behalf of his client. 

As a result of Fitzgerald’s admission of guilt, Royal Court Commissioner Julian Clyde-Smith, presiding, informed the defendant that he is now subject to notification requirements under the Sex Offenders’ Law.

The Commissioner also informed him that the minimum number of years before Fitzgerald could apply to be taken off the Sex Offenders’ Register would be set on the day of his sentencing. 

Advocate Sette made an application for his client to undergo a psychological and psychiatric evaluation before he is sentenced.

Crown Advocate Emma Hollywood, appearing for the prosecution, asked that the case be adjourned for one week to set a sentencing date and Fitzgerald was taken back into custody until next Friday’s Court session.