Britain's first self-declared 'X-oholic'today pleaded guilty to the online stalking of a female police chief constable, claiming his internet harassment was driven by the 'dopamine' rushof trying to get 'likes' on social media.

Over a periodof almost two years, Jason Nicholls shared hundreds of posts, memes, and satirical videos, on the social media site X - formerly Twitter - criticising the work of Sussex's Jo Shiner. Among other posts, the 54-year-old started a 'Twitter soap' called 'Shiner Street' which detailed the "ups and downs" of her force and also created a wanted poster with her face on for "crimes against policing".

Accepting a charge of stalking, Nicholls detailed how his social media "addiction" has "dominated" his life for over a decade as he tried to chase the "instant dopamine rush" which came with posting online. He claimed to be the UK's "first registered X-oholic" and says he now hopes to help others like him whose online lives have become "unmanageable".

'I may be the UK’s first registered X-oholic, but I won’t be the last,' Nicholls warned (

Image:

Nicholls outside Southampton Magistrates Court (

Image:

In a statement issued to co-incide with the hearing, the father from the Isle of Wight said: "I am an X-oholic—blind to risk or consequence, I have lost control of my online life, impulsively chasing the instant dopamine rush of likes, shares, and replies through an overwhelming flood of posts, memes, and satirical videos. Today, I've hit rock bottom, but I'm ready to take his first steps toward recovery."

Nicholls said he "turned to X" to cope with "genuine distress" relating to an issue caused by a fostering assessment with East Sussex County Council that went "disastrously wrong". Nicholls pleaded guilty at Southampton Magistrates Court, Hants, to stalking CC Shiner and will be sentenced in February next year.

A screenshot from Nicholls' social media (

Image:

"But things quickly spiralled out of control," he continued. "For me - who has ADHD, which makes me especially susceptible to addictive behaviour - Elon Musk’s free-speech platform X became like a high-street fixed-odds gambling machine, offering a quick, seductive, and psychologically numbing high."

Nicholls apologised to CC Shiner and Sussex Police force and asked for "forgiveness and understanding" relating to the "addiction that has dominated my life over the past decade".

"I deeply appreciate the difficult and vital role the police play and regrets that my actions crossed the line," he said. "Above all, I am here to ask the court for support in breaking free from this overwhelming compulsion. I may be the UK’s first registered X-oholic, but I won’t be the last."

'I've hit rock bottom,' Nicholls said (

Image:

The father said X has "transformed how people in the UK air their problems, challenge people in power, and catch up on the news". "Now Donald Trump is back in the White House, I fear my addiction will only worsen," he continued. "Today, this court has an opportunity to show national leadership in acknowledging that something has to be done to help X-oholics like me live a normal life."

At today's hearing, prosecutor Anisa Alrubaie said Nicholls stalked CC Shiner from October 2022 to August of this year. She told the hearing that he sent the constable a "great deal" of online communications to her personal X account and email address, among others.

It was heard he alleged there was "corruption" within the force and suggested police were "not investigating a matter reported by the defendant". Ms Alrubaie said he used his social media account to "vent his anger" towards the constable and gave specific examples of the posts he made.

Nicholls used his social media account to "vent his anger" towards the constable (

Image:

Among other posts, he edited CC Shiner onto cartoon pictures of sheep and put her face on a wanted poster for 'crimes against policing'. Nicholls alleged online that the force was "covering up crime" and started a 'Twitter soap' called 'Shiner Street'. He said this was "following the ups and downs of #SussexPoliceCheifConstableShiner", the court heard.

He also contacted media outlets including BBC Radio Sussex, falsely telling them she has been "arrested". He also created a poster which joked that she was 'separated at birth' with Uncle Albert from Only Fools and Horses.

The prosecutor said there was a "large number of posts" which were "distressing" to Ms Shiner. Ms Alrubaie said: "Professionally, the impact on her has been embarrassment when she has been contacted by senior officials in other organisations as the defendants has sent them messages."

He created a fake wanted poster (

Image:

Speaking to the court, Nicholls - who was unrepresented at today's hearing - said: "I do want to say sorry." He pleaded guilty to one charge of stalking without fear and distress and will appear back in the same court on February 20 next year for sentencing.

Concluding the hearing, Magistrate Anne Toomer addressed the 'X-oholic' and said: "You are on conditional bail and the conditions are that you don't contact Jo Shiner directly or indirectly. You must not use any form of social media and that includes, but is not limited to, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter - any social media at all.

"You must not contact the officer in charge of this case and also, you're only to contact the police in the event of a genuine emergency."

Nicholls said he intents to create a support group called 'The Clear Mind Collective', to help others like him whose online lives have become unmanageable.