Search results for Lincolnshire

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A 76-year-old man has been jailed for 15 years after being convicted of historical child sexual offences dating back to 1986.

Bryan Lockwood, of Albert Street, Grantham, was sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court after being found guilty in July of 19 serious sexual offences.

Lockwood was also ordered to sign up to the sex offenders register for life.

Following the hearing, Lincolnshire Police praised the courage of Lockwood's victims for speaking out.

Det Con Dave Ziller said: "This is a very positive conclusion to a long investigation and one that hopefully allows the victims and families the chance to have some closure after many years."

However, he added that this case was "also a reminder there is no stereotypical offender or victim".

"Every person, agency and organisation must continue to do all they can to keep children and young people safe from harm," Det Con Ziller said.

Description

A "predatory" 51-year-old man who would "take advantage of young girls" in an abuse of his position has been sentenced to eight years in prison.

Craig Spencer, of Owston Ferry, was recently sentenced for six counts of historic sexual activity with a girl, which dates back to 2005 and 2006 when he owned a tattoo parlour on Robert Street, Scunthorpe.

He will serve a minimum of four years in prison and has been ordered to sign on the sexual offenders register for the rest of his life.

Detective Constable Lindsey Blake of Humberside Police said: “This was an appalling abuse of his position and responsibilities. Spencer is clearly a predatory offender who would take advantage of young girls.

“His victim has been extremely brave in coming forward to provide the details which has secured this prosecution and has put a dangerous sexual offender behind bars.

“I would like to praise her for her bravery and fortitude in coming forward and I would always encourage any victim of an historical sexual crime to come forward, we will listen, and we will do everything in our power to bring offenders to justice."

Description

A pervert with an unhealthy interest in sexual images of children as young as four has been jailed after failing to learn his lesson from a previous conviction and continuing with his "addiction" to viewing the shocking pictures.

Andrew Joinson had been given a chance to turn his back on that type of offending through rehabilitation but he was caught with stashes of 441 indecent images, some of them in the worst category, Grimsby Crown Court heard.

Joinson, 48, of Merton Road, Bottesford, Scunthorpe, admitted three offences of possessing indecent images of children on September 28, 2021.

Jeremy Evans, prosecuting, said that the National Crime Agency contacted Humberside Police with information about illegal images of children that were linked to Joinson's address.

He was arrested and his electronic devices were seized. It was found that he had been searching for and uploading images to a Dropbox. Police found 103 images of children in the most serious Category A as well as 46 images in Category B and 292 in Category C.

They included children aged as young as four years old in all three categories. The vast majority of the children were aged between five and seven.

Joinson had a previous similar conviction in 2016 involving distributing and making indecent images of children and he had been given a 26-week suspended prison sentence and put on the sex offenders' register.

Bianca Brasoveanu, mitigating, said that Joinson was open with the police and made frank admissions. "The highest number of images were in the lowest category and there are no distribution charges for him," said Miss Brasoveanu.

Joinson, who is married with a son, had been assessed by the probation service as being at a low risk of reoffending. "This type of offending is a form of addiction, with all the associated risks, the first of which is relapsing," said Miss Brasoveanu. "This is exactly what happened to him."

Joinson was jailed for 10 months.

Judge Mark Bury told him: "You have been to court before for offences like this. You were not sent to custody on that occasion. You were given an opportunity of rehabilitation including a sexual offenders' programme requirement.

"Well, that didn't do any good. You are still offending. You are looking at images of children.

"It's wholly unrealistic to expect that you should be dealt with in any other way than an immediate custodial sentence when you have done exactly the same thing and carried on your addiction to indecent images of children.

"You plainly have a sexual interest in children, otherwise you would not be looking at these things."

Description

A man who was caught by a paedophile hunting group after he attempted to meet a 14-year-old girl in Grantham was today (Wednesday) jailed for 16 months.

Steven Slater, 59, was apprehended after he attended Grantham railway station on July 24 last year and in fact met a 46-year-old woman who was acting as a decoy to target sex offenders.

The paedophile hunting group made a citizen’s arrest of Slater, who was living in Grantham at that time, and contacted Lincolnshire Police.

Lincoln Crown Court heard Slater had been in contact with the decoy on social media for two months.

The decoy had made it clear during their very first contact that Slater was talking to someone he believed was a 14-year-old girl, the court was told.

Phil Howes, prosecuting, said Slater caused the decoy to watch a sexual video on the very first day of their contact and later asked her to take a photograph of her breasts.

Mr Howes told the court: "There was evidence the defendant had tried to cover his tracks by removing many of his messages.

"He did not realise those live conversations had been recorded."

In total 23 video recordings were made over 14 different days, the court was told.

Mr Howes said there was also talk on July 8 of the girl travelling to Grantham railway station and meeting the defendant, who would take her fishing.

This progressed to the decoy telling Slater that she had bought a £45 open ticket.

"The defendant tells her he was looking forward to meeting her," Mr Howes added.

"The arranged meet on 24 July took an unexpected turn after the group contacted the police to say they had carried out a citizen’s arrest in Queen Street, Grantham."

During his first interview, Slater said he thought the girl was 17.

The court heard that since his arrest, Slater had moved to an address in Gains Close, Canvey Island, Essex, and his marriage had ended.

He admitted five offences between May 20 and July 24, 2022.

They included causing a 14-year-old girl to watch sexual acts, attempting sexual communication, attempting to cause or incite a girl to engage in sexual activity of a non-penetrative nature and attempting to meet a girl aged under-16 following grooming.

Neil Sands, mitigating, told the court Slater entered his guilty pleas at the very first opportunity when he appeared before Lincoln magistrates and argued a suspended sentence would allow him to work with the Probation Service.

"All of these offences arise during the same 61-day period," Mr Sands added.

"I have seen his shame [over] what he has done and Your Honour can no doubt see that over my shoulder.

"He is not a man who lied about his age. It was on his Facebook profile. He wants nothing more to do with the internet."

Passing sentence Recorder Graham Huston accepted no real child was involved but said the communications ran to hundreds of pages.

Recorder Huston told Slater: "In this case you attended Grantham railway station to meet a 14-year-old girl who you had been communicating with. In fact it was an adult."

"It is clear you deliberately set out grooming this girl," the Recorder added.

"You viewed her as a sexual object from the beginning."

Slater was also made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years and must register as a sex offender for the same period.

Description

A registered sex offender has been sent back to jail after indecent images of children were found during a visit to his Barndey home.

Martin Fry, 58, of Manor Close in Bardney, has been sentenced to five years and 10 months for six counts of making indecent images of children and breaching prevention orders.

He had previously served a six-year prison sentence for abducting and sexually assaulting a young girl. He was also sentenced to for four years for possession and making indecent images of children.

During a routine visit to his home in July 2020, officers discovered he was breaching his Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) and notification requirements as a sex offender.

His desktop computer and other digital devices were seized and examined. A forensic examination revealed 4,874 indecent images of children.

It was also found he had been deleting his Internet search history and using a web browser that masked his online activity.

Fry was arrested subsequently arrested for the breach of his prevention order as well as making indecent images of children.

He pled guilty to the offences in Lincoln Crown Court on Wednesday, April 26 and has now been sentenced.

He will remain on the sex offenders’ list for life, and will have a SOPO for life.

DC Nicola Paradowski, who led the investigation, said: "I am glad that the judge recognised the seriousness of Fry's offending and not only deemed him a dangerous offender, but also went outside the parameters of sentencing guidelines.

“The viewing, possessing, and distributing indecent images of children is not a victimless crime. Behind every video or photograph is a child who is or has been the victim of child sexual abuse.

“Police work tirelessly to actively monitor registered sex offenders and violent offenders in the county. This includes holding regular visits, examining digital devices, and seeking orders designed to protect the public from harm and to prevent further offending.

“I hope this case sends a clear message that we in the Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT) will thoroughly investigate and take action when we suspect these offences are being committed.”

Description

A man has been jailed for 10 years for five charges of sexual assault. Tom Louth, 35, of East Elloe Avenue, Holbeach St Marks, stood trial at Lincoln Crown Court and was sentenced after the jury delivered a guilty verdict.

Detective constable Helen Morris was the investigating officer in the case, working in Lincolnshire Police's protecting vulnerable persons unit. She said: "This guilty verdict and sentence is both punishment for Louth and a warning to others.

"We will do all we can to investigate and built a case, ensuring that suspects are brought before the courts. Each report we receive of sexual assault is taken very seriously and treated sensitivity.

"We know what it takes for a victim to come forward and therefore it's vital that we investigate thoroughly, leaving no stone unturned. We hope that outcomes such as today's build confidence in reporting and our ability to do our job and keep people safe."

Louth was sentenced to 10 years and made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order. He was ordered to keep to sex offender notification requirements for life.

Description

Victims of a sexual predator who posed as a photographer and set up hidden cameras in changing rooms to film hundreds of aspiring young models said they felt utterly violated as their abuser was jailed.

David Glover, 48, made secret recordings of his victims who came to him for portfolio shoots over at least four years and cataloged them on his computer, Peterborough Crown Court heard.

After admitting five counts of voyeurism concerning 35 women identified by police, Glover was jailed for 20 months.

One of his victims, who waived her right to anonymity, said it made her "skin crawl" to think she had trust the defendant, to take photographs of her baby.

Francesca Rowden told the court that she no longer worked in the modelling industry.

Another victim, breaking down in tears, said: "I thought about how this could affect my career now if they [the images] ever got leaked."

In a statement to court another woman said she felt "utterly violated" and another said "the guy is an absolute creep".

Glover, 48, of Tallington in Lincolnshire, admitted at an earlier hearing to five counts of voyeurism concerning 35 women identified by police, but prosecutors said a further "70 or so" women were in footage that police found on Glover's electronic devices.

Thomas Brown, prosecuting, said these women had not been identified and Glover was not being sentenced over images of these further women - but could face further proceedings if any of them came forward.

Glover, who also worked as a wedding photographer, was "well thought of" said prosecutors. He would shoot in his home and sometimes hired studio space.

"There was private space provided by the studio for people to change from their outdoor, everyday clothing into whatever they were wearing for the shoot," said the prosecutor.

"As a private space, it was used for exactly that purpose by people who were to be photographed."

His voyeurism was uncovered by a woman's partner who investigated the changing room to find "an alarm clock that looked remarkably out of context".

He investigated further and found it was a covert camera, and that the memory card in it had footage of his partner getting changed on it.

After a police investigation was triggered, more women came forward.

Judge Matthew Lowe said: "Following the breakdown of his marriage in 2011, this defendant sought to turn what had been a hobby into a business and began working as a professional photographer."

He said the offending took place over at least four years, was "clearly planned offending" and some of the women in the footage appeared "completely naked".

Glover was jailed for 20 months for his offending, and was also ordered to sign the sex offenders' register, and made subject to a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years.

Description

A dangerous Grantham man who was convicted of a string of sexual offences against four victims over two decades was today (Thursday) sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Christopher Manning, 38, of Dalton Close, Grantham, was also made the subject of an extended licence period of four years once he is released from custody making a total sentence of 29 years.

Manning was found guilty of 21 charges, including rapes, after a three week trial earlier this year.

Lincoln Crown Court heard two of Manning's victims were children when they were raped.

Passing sentence, Judge Catarina Sjolin Knight told Manning she had concluded that he was a dangerous offender.

Judge Sjolin Knight explained Manning would therefore be subject to an extended licence period of four years on his eventual release from custody to protect the public.

The Judge told Manning: "I am satisfied you take delight in abusing children and have done so since you were a child."

Judge Sjolin Knight said Manning also contacted girls online and developed an interest in looking for indecent images which led to his arrest when he contacted an undercover officer called 'Dave'.

The Judge told Manning he showed no concern for his victims during his trial, accusing them of lying and going on the offensive. "You are 38. You donated a kidney to your father. There is no other mitigation."

Judge Sjolin Knight said Manning's online activity also made her concerned about his interest in babies.

Manning was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life and must also register as a sex offender for life.

Impact statements from Manning's victims were read out in court. One woman described how she suffered flashbacks and nightmares, but was now finally getting justice.

Another victim said she did not trust anyone except her immediate family. A third victim added: "The impact of the crime on me has been significant."

In total Manning was convicted of seven rape charges, two charges of indecent assault, three charges of sexual assault, three charges of making indecent photographs of children, two charges of causing or inciting a person to engage in sexual activity, one charge of sexual activity with a child, one charge of sexual communication with a child, one charge of encouraging or assisting an offence and one charge of sexual intercourse with a girl aged under-13.

Manning was arrested on February 25 last year and denied all the offences when he gave evidence during his trial.

The offences occured over 20 years and began when Manning was a child himself.

The court heard there was a significant disparity in age between Manning and some of his victims. All his victims are entitled to anonymity for life.

Karen Walton, mitigating, conceded Manning is someone who would present a considerable risk in the future and would require management once he is released from a long sentence starting at the age of 38.

Miss Walton urged the sentences for when Manning was a juvenile to reflect his age at the time.

"Any sentence he gets today is going to be very long, and before any release he will have to go before the parole board."

Miss Walton said she could not speak of any remorse from Manning as he does not accept the offences.

Judge Sjolin Knight also praised the support given by the National Crime Agency (NCA) to the victims.

David Levett, senior investigating officer at the NCA, said: “This investigation uncovered that Christopher Manning inflicted the most horrific abuse against children over the course of many years.

“The impact of his criminality is utterly devastating, yet many of his victims bravely gave evidence during the trial and helped to secure his conviction.

“He is a prolific and dangerous sexual offender who poses a grave risk to the public. His sentence reflects the severity and totality of his offending.

“The NCA is dedicated to identifying high harm criminals like Manning and ensuring they are brought to justice.”

Description

A 34-year-old sex offender who posed a ‘serious danger’ to young girls has been captured by police.

Ryan Bufton was a wanted man after failing to comply with his sex offender notification requirements following his release from prison.

With his whereabouts unknown, a police search was launched and an appeal issued warning that he should not to be approached.

The public were asked to report any immediate sightings to 999 and Lancashire Police believed he might have travelled to the Blackpool area.

“Just to update you, Bufton was arrested in Lincolnshire yesterday.

“Thank you to everybody who shared and supported our appeal.”

He was jailed for three and a half years in 2017 after preying on a 15-year-old runaway who he plied with alcohol and took advantage of in a woodland area.

Bufton was arrested and pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a child aged under 16.

He also has previous convictions for sex offences dating back to his own teenage years.

At his sentencing, Judge Sara Dodd described Bufton as posing a ‘serious danger’ to young girls and sentenced him to 40 months in prison, with an extra three years on licence.

Description

Ridgway, 21, shared 30,000 images and videos with fellow paedophiles.

A man has been jailed for six years and three months for sexually assaulting a four-year-old girl and sharing videos of the abuse online. Keenan Ridgway, 21, became the subject of a National Crime Agency investigation in August 2021, after he sent the material to another offender who was arrested in Miami.

After matching the images and videos to those that were uploaded to a file-sharing platform in 2018, NCA investigators identified Ridgway as the user behind that account. He was arrested by NCA officers at his home in Skegness and his phone was seized. This was analysed and was confirmed to be a match for the phone that was used to create the abuse material, and from which the platform had been accessed several times in 2018.

The phone had recorded Ridgway's journey on the night a number of the videos were created. This is consistent with him going to the location where the abuse took place. Officers also recovered a number of items of Ridgway’s clothing, glimpses of which could be seen in the abuse videos.

The file-sharing app was downloaded on his phone and showed that in total, Ridgway had uploaded 450gb of material, which amounted to almost 30,000 indecent images of children (IIOC) in categories A-C. 42 of these were of the young girl.

A further 355 IIOC were also recovered from his phone.

Email records showed that prior to committing the abuse, Ridgway told another online user that he had sent all the videos he had, but promised he would be “making new soon so you’ll be the first person to be sent them”.

Ridgway was charged with 16 offences, including three counts of sexual assault of a child, three counts each of taking and possessing IIOC, six counts of distributing IIOC, and possession of prohibited imagery.

He pleaded guilty to all charges and was sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court to six years and three months in prison. He has been placed on the sex offenders register for life and is also subject to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.

Martin Ludlow from the National Crime Agency said: “His actions have caused trauma to those involved, the impact of which may be felt long after he has served his sentence.

“The NCA has the niche capabilities to identify high-risk offenders like Ridgway who pose a sexual threat to children and we will continue to work tirelessly to ensure they are identified and brought to justice.”

Description

A man has been jailed for producing hundreds of sick photographs of children. Andrew Kelsall, 31, of Boston Road, Sleaford, was sentenced to four years and eight months in prison at Lincoln Crown Court on Thursday, February 16.

Kelsall made and distributed over 700 child sex abuse material, some of which are described as "extreme pornographic images." He also planned to meet with who he believed was a child under 10-years-old and her mother to commit sexual acts.

It later transpired that Kelsall had unknowingly been talking to a man in Scotland. Kelsall was found to be in possession of 70 Category A images and videos, 15 Category B and 34 Category C images.

He was also found to be in possession of 679 extreme images and one prohibited pornographic image. He was jailed for the following offences:

• Arrange / facilitate the commission of a child sex offence.
• Make indecent photograph of a child – Category A.
• Make indecent photograph of a child – Category B.
• Make indecent photograph of a child – Category C.
• Possess a prohibited image of a child.
• Possess extreme pornographic image/images portraying an act of intercourse /oral sex with a dead / alive.
• Distribute an indecent photograph / pseudo-photograph of a child.

Detective constable Nicola Paradowski from Lincolnshire Police's Paedophile Online Team, said: "After receiving a referral from Police Scotland regarding Andrew Kelsall and the shocking nature of his activities, we immediately launched an investigation to get a dangerous offender off our streets. This case is a great example of cross-border policing and a message to people out there that we will be relentless in our pursuit of those suspected of this type of offence.

"We take all reports of this nature incredibly seriously and Lincolnshire Police is committed to keeping children safe from harm." A spokesperson for Lincolnshire Police said: "Kelsall will be added to the Sex Offenders Register and will be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Description

A sex offender who failed to attend court on the last day of his trial was today (Thursday) jailed for three years.

James Wray, 43, was convicted in his absence of two charges of sexual assault against a child by the jury at Lincoln Crown Court.

Wray, formerly of Quadring Road, Donington, was later remanded in to custody to await his sentence hearing.

He was unanimously convicted of the offences, which took place between 2015 and 2018, during a three day trial before Christmas.

Siward James-Moore, prosecuting, told the hearing Wray’s victim, who can not be named for legal reasons, had made an impact statement which was provided to the sentencing judge.

Karen Walton, mitigating, told the court Wray had been abusing alcohol and had never previously shown any deviant behaviour towards children.

Miss Walton said Wray simply “panicked” on the final day of his trial, and had now spent over two months in prison.

“He is on a wing and has a job but he wants the chance to work with probation,” Miss Walton added.

“In his own words ‘he would dedicate himself to it’ as he wants the help,” Miss Walton added.

Passing sentence Judge James House KC told Wray: “These offences are so serious that only an immediate custodial sentence is appropriate.”

Judge House said it was clear Wray’s victim had suffered “enormous pain and confusion.”

Wray was also sentenced to seven days imprisonment for the offence of failing to attend his trial which will run alongside his three year sentence.

Police said the charges were brought on June 10, 2021, following a thorough investigation by officers in the Protecting Vulnerable People (PVP) unit.

The investigation was launched following an allegation by the victim who came forward in 2020.

Detective Inspector Lee Nixon from PVP, said: “The courage of the victim to come forward and report these crimes should not be underestimated, and I want to thank them for taking that brave step.

“This case demonstrates that we will take reports seriously regardless of when the abuse occurred. I am really pleased with the verdict, and while no court outcome can ever undo the suffering at the hands of the predator involved, I hope that the victim can now feel they have received justice.”

Description

The charity Action for Children is reportedly suing a sex offender who lived in Lincolnshire and preyed on young girls in a children’s home in North Yorkshire.

Maurice Berry, 67, was jailed for 13 years in 2019 after a trial at York Crown Court, which heard that he “preyed on” victims at May Lodge Children’s Home in Scarborough, where he was the deputy manager.

He lived in North Somercotes in Lincolnshire before he was jailed.

Berry, who is now serving his sentence at HMP Moorland near Doncaster, is said to have climbed into their beds at night and touched them, exposed himself to them, and also tried to rape one of the little girls, according to the Daily Mail.

Berry was arrested at his home in Lincolnshire after one or more of the victims came forward to police on 2017.

After his conviction, the two younger victims, who are now grown women, claimed damages for personal injury against Action for Children, formerly called the National Children’s Home, saying it was “liable for Berry’s offence”.

The charity is now trying to get back nearly £160,000 in compensation and legal fees from Berry, according to the Daily Mail. The report states that the charity has tried to seek agreement with Berry but he has “failed to engage” so it has taken court action as a last resort.

The Lincolnite contacted Action for Children for a statement, but the charity said it is a legal matter and it has no further comment to make at this time.

Description

A sex offender who groomed and sexually abused a teenage girl has been put behind bars.

Thomas Timson, 36, took advantage of a schoolgirl by befriending her and buying her presents.

He paid the girl compliments to win her confidence before abusing her on multiple occasions between October 2019 and April 2020.

Timson, of Kirton, near Newark, was jailed for three years when he appeared at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday (January 20).

He was convicted after a trial on four counts of engaging a girl in sexual activity.

Detective Sergeant James Robinson, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Timson’s behaviour was manipulative and predatory. He knew exactly what he was doing when he chose to befriend a young, vulnerable girl.

“His actions were completely reprehensible and caused the child unimaginable emotional damage.

“I’d like to mention the bravery of the child in this case in speaking to officers and helping expose Timson for his appalling crimes.

“By lying about his abuse this case went to trial and put the victim through even more pain.

“I’m pleased that the jury saw through his lies and he is now serving a custodial sentence for his actions.”

Timson met the girl after being introduced to her in July 2019 and was fully aware of her age.

After gaining her confidence, Timson began buying the girl clothes as well as transferring money into her bank account and taking her on shopping trips and to restaurants.

During police interviews, the girl said Timson was throwing money at her.

He asked her to send sexually explicit pictures of herself and sent her inappropriate messages before engaging the girl in sexual activity.

Description

A twisted Snapchat predator from Lincolnshire has been jailed after grooming, abducting and having sex with a schoolgirl.

Daniel Potterton from Kirton, Boston, targeted the 14-year-old girl in June before luring her into a string of sexual acts which lasted a number of weeks.

The 20-year-old was sentenced to six years in prison at Newcastle Crown Court and told he must sign the sex offenders register. He will also be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for life and subject to an indefinite restraining order.

Potterton randomly added the girl on Snapchat in June and began chatting with her. Her parents ended up confiscating her phone after becoming concerned about the contact and she reacted by causing damage to their home while shouting and swearing and they contacted police, reports Chronicle Live.

Potterton drove to South Tyneside and contacted the girl from near her home and she went out with him in his Vauxhall Corsa, turning off the GPS on her phone. The girl, who was a virgin, had sex with him in the car.

She was reported missing by her parents and when she returned home she had love bites and was described as "obsessed" with him and refused to cooperate with a medical examination, saying she believed she was in a relationship with him.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the girl also texted her parents asking if she could go away with him for 10 days but they refused. She also said she needed her passport to go to France and "didn't appear to think there was anything wrong with her having sex with him.

Glenn Gatland, prosecuting, said: "He said he was going to prison anyway so he might as well do it again." Police saw the defendant's car crossing Wearmouth Bridge on August 2 and the girl was in the car with him and he was arrested.

In a victim impact statement, the girl's mother said: "It has caused me to feel like I'm having a nervous breakdown, I feel weighed down and I feel like a zombie.

"Her behaviour has turned manic since I found out she was speaking to him. She doesn't care about the danger as long as she can be with him.

"We have taken her phone off her and she is always searching for it. She will do anything and everything to get what she wants.

"She has turned the whole family's world upside down. I feel broken and all our hearts are breaking. She thinks she can do what she wants and calls me an idiot when I try to educate her."

Her dad added: "We have had to put locks on every door except the bathroom. Every time we leave the house we have to lock every room and it feels like a prison. If we don't, she would search everywhere to get hold of bank cards or phones."

Potterton, of Dennis Estate, Boston, pleaded guilty to child abduction, two counts of sexual activity with a child, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and meeting a child following sexual grooming.

On a second occasion, Potterton drove back up to the North East and the girl went to meet him again. When her mother discovered she was not in her room in the early hours, police were contacted. She then came home at 5am.

Judge Christopher Prince said: "(The girl) bears a deep resentment (to her parents) notwithstanding their efforts to do everything they can to try to help. The effect on them has been profound and distressing. They are quite simply utterly at their wits end at their inability to do more to help her.

"You were fully aware of what you were doing and fully aware you were breaking the law yet you took the most cynical view that as you were going to prison anyway you would engage in sexual intercourse with her a second time."

Steven Reed, defending, said Potterton was of previous good character and said immaturity contributed to his offending.

After the case, Detective Sergeant Jodie Faulkner, of Northumbria Police, said: "This is a very upsetting case that saw Potterton target his underage victim on social media before sexually exploiting her over a number of weeks. His behaviour has had a shattering impact on both his victim and her family. I sincerely hope his conviction in court offers them some comfort.

"As soon as we were made aware of this case, we were determined to get hold of Potterton who we learnt had been travelling long distances from Lincolnshire over a number of weeks to sexually exploit his victim."