Lincoln teen sentenced for sexual offences involving children

An “immature” teenager used Facebook to send explicit photographs of himself to younger girls, Lincoln Crown Court was told on Monday, August 8.

Gregory Pike told a 14-year-old that he wanted to have sex with her and persuaded her to send photographs of herself to him.

James Baird, prosecuting, told the court: “They became friends on Facebook and initially the conversations were normal.

“But then they became sexual and he indicated he would like to have sex with her. She sent him photographs of herself and he sent her a photograph of himself naked.

“He was asking her to send more photographs including showing her boobs.”

Police were contacted by the girl’s mother after she saw the messages between her daughter and Pike.

As a result of the subsequent investigation, Pike’s phone was seized and officers discovered he had been in contact with two other young girls.

Mr Baird said: “One of the girls started having conversations with the defendant on Facebook and Snapchat. He started to ask her for some photographs of herself naked and he sent her a photograph of his penis. The girl said they met up but nothing happened.”

Pike had contact with a third girl whom he asked to send him photographs of herself and suggested they meet up for sex.

Mr Baird said Pike, who was 17 at the time, also had sex with another under-age girl.

The court heard that Pike later told a probation officer that he was addicted to social media and was shocked to find himself in custody following his arrest.

Pike, now 18, of Laughton Way, Lincoln, admitted eight charges of causing or inciting sexual activity with a child and two further charges of sexual activity with a child.

He also admitted distributing an indecent image of a child.

He was given a three year community order after the court heard that he has already served the equivalent of a 14-month jail sentence while being held in custody since his arrest.

Judge John Pini QC also ordered him to be placed on the sex offenders’ register for 30 months.

Judge Pini, passing sentence, told him: “When you committed all of these offences you were 17 years old. It is crystal clear to me that you were an extremely immature-17-year-old.

“You have served the equivalent of a 14-month sentence so you have served a substantial period of custody. Because of that and all the facts that I have averted to the best way to protect the public is to make a community order for three years. It is designed to help you and make sure behaviour like this does not happen again.”

Giles Bedloe, in mitigation, said that Pike had no previous convictions and at the time was only 17 years old.

He said that Pike had been bullied at school and had difficulties with dyslexia.

Mr Bedloe said: “He made full admissions to the police.

“He finds it difficult to form relationships with girls of his own age because they are so much more mature and developed than he is. He has found it easier to engage with younger girls.”