February 5, 2016 12.39 pm This story is over 97 months old

Lincolnshire school worker sexually groomed 15-year-old on Facebook

Online grooming: A school IT worker tried to arrange meeting a 15-year-old Lincolnshire girl during an inappropriate Facebook conversation.
Lincoln Crown Court. Photo: Martin Pettitt

A school IT worker who tried to arrange to meet a 15-year-old Lincolnshire girl during a Facebook conversation has on Friday, February 5 been ordered to register as a sex offender for five years.

David Elliott Taylor, 28, was also told to complete a sex offenders rehabilitation course and placed on probation for three years after he admitted a charge of attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming.

Lincoln Crown Court heard Taylor made inappropriate comments to the girl, who lives in East Lincolnshire, during a Facebook conversation on 28 December, 2014.

At the time of the offence Taylor was working in the information technology department of a girls’ school in Wiltshire, the court was told.

Tony Stanford, prosecuting, said Taylor complimented the girl and told her she was “sexy.”

Taylor suggested she go for a drive with him and arranged a meeting for the following Tuesday.

Stanford told the court Taylor also said he wanted the girl to “snog him” and told her he wanted to put her up against a wall and do things to her.

Concerns were raised by the behaviour of the girl, who can not be named for legal reasons, and her Facebook page was looked at.

Graham Huston, mitigating, said following a probation report on Taylor the need for a sexual rehabilitation course was “transparent.”

The court heard Taylor had no previous convictions. Mr Huston added: “He is married now and lives in Swindon.”

Taylor, of Swindon, Wilts, admitted a single charge of attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming on December 28, 2014.

Passing sentence Judge Simon Hirst told Taylor his choice was to pass a short jail sentence or make him the subject of a community order.

Judge Hirst said: “You have lost your good character and inevitably your career as well.

“It seems to me the public and you would be better served by a community order. This is not an easy option.”