CONNOR ORMSTON

A pervert who engaged in sickening online sex chats with a nine-year-old girl has been jailed.

Connor Ormston chillingly responded "nice" when told the child's age after befriending her on Snapchat.

Newcastle Crown Court heard his offending was exposed when the victim's mother noticed her daughter becoming "secretive" and receiving messages.

Prosecutor Liam O'Brien said: "She checked her phone and saw a number of Snapchat messages and videos which had been sent by the defendant.

This prompted her to speak to her daughter.

She made a note of the questions and answers she was given on a piece of paper and then recorded a WhatsApp voice call.

She then contacted the police and provided them with the evidence she had gathered." Ormston was arrested in a toy shop at the Metro Centre in Gateshead, claiming "I've done nowt wrong." The 31-year-old, of Dorrington Road, Fawdon, Newcastle, admitted sexual communication with a child, three charges of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and one of causing or inciting a child to watch a sexual act.

Judge Gavin Doig sentenced him to five years and eight months in prison, with lifelong sex offender registration and a sexual harm prevention order.

The court heard Ormston told the child he was 16, and the Snapchat conversation quickly turned inappropriate.

Mr O'Brien said: "It began with the defendant sending a picture of him in his boxer shorts and soon progressed to him sending images of his penis.

“As time went on the defendant began to ask her to send sexual images and videos." The youngster also complied with requests for explicit material via messages and FaceTime video calls.

Mr O'Brien added: "The complainant was truthful about her age, she told the defendant she was nine, about to turn 10.

His response to that, chillingly, was 'nice'." The defendant also told the child not to tell anyone about their discussions, which were "our little secret." Defending, Jennifer Coxon said Ormston was isolated during the 2022 offences, has mental health difficulties, and has been in no trouble since.