An "immature young man", who travelled to London three times to meet a fifteen year-old girl he sexually groomed on the internet, has received a suspended prison sentence.
Former Tesco's worker David Wright, 24, of Chiltern Court, Hunt Road, Somerford, Christchurch, Dorset kissed and cuddled the schoolgirl in a south-east London park, but was eventually caught by her suspicious mother.
He pleaded guilty at Inner London Crown Court to one count of meeting a child after sexual grooming between June 1 and September 29, 2013 and received ten months imprisonment, suspended for two years.
Wright was also made subject to a two-year supervision order, which includes participation in a sex offenders treatment programme, must comply with a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and sign the sex offenders register for ten years.
Prosecutor Mr. Alisdair Smith said: "He befriended this young girl on the internet, via twitter, and as the relationship developed she regarded this defendant as her boyfriend.
"She told him at some point what age she was in Skype and text messages and they shared an interest in fantasy computer games and associated cartoon figures.
"In one text she told him: 'This is the last year I am getting presents from my mum and dad. They refuse to give me presents once I am sixteen.
"The initial contact included a sexual element. Fantasy sex."
The first met face-to-face in a Sidcup park on September 3, 2013, explained Mr. Smith. "She went with her brother and he saw the defendant and his sister kissing and hugging."
Wright returned three weeks later. "Again the brother witnessed some hugging and kissing."
On September 28 Wright travelled to the park again and was kissing and cuddling the girl when her mother, who had followed, stepped-in.
"She confronted Mr. Wright about what he was doing and he confirmed he knew she was fifteen. He told her he was only eighteen, which was not the case at all."
Despite the intervention online contact continued via a PS3 games console after the girl's iPad and phone were confiscated by her mother.
Wright was arrested at home on February 25, last year and police found pictures of the girl plastered over his bedroom wall.
"His intention was to have a friendship with a girl. He did not know it was illegal," said Miss Jane Rowley, defending.
"There is genuine remorse and he realises what a fool he has been. since his arrest he has left his job and his life has taken a turn for the worse."
Judge Nic Madge told the first-time offender: "You did not think it was illegal to have sexual talk with this girl who was under sixteen years-old or think it was illegal to touch her by hugging or kissing.
"You engaged in sexual talk on the internet and then went on to meet her and all cases of sexual grooming are serious.
"The probation service say you are an immature young man who finds it difficult to develop age-appropriate relationships."
An "immature young man", who travelled to London three times to meet a fifteen year-old girl he sexually groomed on the internet, has received a suspended prison sentence.
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