DARLINGTON PERVERT THOUGHT HE WAS TALKING TO TEENAGE GIRL
A man with inappropriate intentions believed he was communicating with a 15-year-old girl and requested explicit images from her.Mark Summers was unaware that he was conversing with a fake profile when he engaged in an online chat with the teenager known as ‘Clio’.
The 53-year-old soon shifted the conversation to sexual topics before authorities were notified about his online conduct, as heard in Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court.
Prosecutor Jade Houston explained: “He had been in contact with the decoy online, who was pretending to be a 15-year-old, and he asked her to send him pictures.” “During the chat, he repeatedly calls her beautiful and then discusses sex with her,” she added.
Miss Houston noted that Summers has three prior convictions for five different offences, though none were related to this case.
Summers, from Park Place, Darlington, admitted to attempting to communicate sexually with a minor on April 18 of the previous year.
Defense counsel John Clish mentioned that his client has some learning difficulties and is finding it hard to come to terms with his actions.
He stated: “Summers has expressed that he panicked during the situation — he realises the seriousness of the offence and the potential sentence he faces.” Deputy District Judge Anna Moran sentenced him to eight months in prison, suspended for 18 months, and ordered him to complete 30 days of rehabilitation activities.
She commented: “This is a grave offence, which is why the court treats it as such.
While this was an attempted communication without any actual child involved, this was not an accident or by your choice.” Additionally, Summers was required to register as a sex offender for ten years and was ordered to pay £272 towards court expenses.
