LEWIS HART SENT SEXUAL IMAGES TO TEENAGE GIRL IN YORKSHIRE AND GUILTY OF HARASSMENT

A man from Yorkshire, Lewis Hart, has been sentenced to prison after engaging in a series of disturbing and illegal behaviors involving a teenage girl. The court heard that Hart, aged 36, sent a photograph of his genitals to the young girl, an act that has been classified as a serious sexual offence. This incident marked the beginning of a troubling pattern of conduct that extended over several months.

According to the prosecution, Hart also directed a series of sexually explicit messages towards his landlord six months after the initial incident. These messages were part of a broader campaign of harassment that took place while Hart was on police bail, further compounding the severity of his actions. The court was informed that Hart repeatedly expressed his attraction to the teenage girl, sending her multiple messages in which he stated his feelings and intentions.

During the hearing at Teesside Crown Court, prosecutor Jon Harley detailed that Hart, in a WhatsApp message sent last May, claimed he wanted to 'get it out of his system' when he sent the explicit images. The messages were sent while Hart was intoxicated, and the harassment caused the victim to feel physically sick, highlighting the distress and trauma inflicted upon her.

Hart, who resides on Blackmore Close in Guisborough, pleaded guilty to several charges, including sending sexual communications to a minor, sending images or videos intended to cause alarm, distress, or humiliation, and engaging in harassment without violence. His guilty plea reflects acknowledgment of the gravity of his misconduct.

In his defense, Hart’s solicitor, John Nixon, described the defendant as a man who had become 'low and desperate' at the time of the offences. Nixon emphasized that these actions were out of character for Hart and expressed that he deeply regrets his behavior. The lawyer also pointed out that Hart remains involved in the lives of his biological children and that there is a significant potential for rehabilitation, with little risk of further offending.

Despite these mitigating factors, Judge Timothy Stead sentenced Hart to a total of 16 months in prison. The judge acknowledged the difficult circumstances Hart and his family had been experiencing, including mental health struggles. However, he emphasized the seriousness of the most egregious offence—sending six sexually explicit images to a 14-year-old girl—and described the images as troubling and disgusting. The judge made it clear that such conduct is unacceptable and warrants strict punishment.

Furthermore, Hart was ordered to register as a sex offender for the next ten years and was subject to a ten-year restraining order to prevent any contact with the victim or further harassment. The court’s decision underscores the importance of protecting minors and maintaining public safety in Yorkshire.