January 11, 2019 5.11 pm This story is over 62 months old

Louth paedophile jailed for grooming girl

Over two years in jail

A Louth man who groomed a girl has been jailed for two years and eight months.

Johnathan Challis-Wagstaff, 24, knew the girl was under 16-years-old at an early stage in their contact through Facebook but pursued her regardless.

He proceeded to make several requests for the child to meet him for sex but she turned him down.

Lincoln Crown Court heard how Challis-Wagstaff, of St Bernards Avenue, sent the girl a video of him performing a sex act on himself.

Challis-Wagstaff asked her to send him indecent images and incited her to perform a penetrative sexual act.

Judge Martin Hurst told the defendant today: “You have taken an opportunity to take advantage of a vulnerable girl.

“These offences are so serious, the only option is an immediate custodial sentence.”

Challis-Wagstaff received the 32-month sentence for the two counts of intentionally causing or inciting a girl under the age of 16 to engage in sexual activity.

The 24-year-old had pleaded guilty to this charge and three others at Lincoln Crown Court on December 10.

He has been placed on the Sex Offender Register for life and was given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years.

Challis-Wagstaff had originally begun communicating with the girl on Facebook.

Detective Constable Wayne Pilkington said: “Challis-Wagstaff was aware of the girl’s age at an early stage. This did not stop him from asking her to send indecent images of herself or inciting her to engage in penetrative sexual act.

“She was also sent images showing him performing sex acts.

“All of the communications between Challis-Wagstaff and the girl were recovered and this provided crucial evidence in this case.”