August 2013
Man swapped cigarettes for sex acts from pre-teen girls on mother’s doorstep
A MAN has been jailed for accepting sexual favours from two young girls in exchange for cigarettes.
Keith Waites was contacted by one of the girls via a text, Durham Crown Court heard.
“It seems the message was received at about 9pm,” said Sean Dryden, prosecuting.
“He went round to the house of one of the girls a few hours later.
“The sexual activity took place on the doorstep and appears to have ceased after the girl’s mother shouted from inside to ask what was going on.
“Police became involved some time later when another girl, who had heard about what happened, told her mother.”
Waites, of Fairclough Court, Peterlee, admitted two charges of inciting a girl under 13 to commit sexual activity.
The court heard the offences put the 20-year-old in breach of a previous suspended sentence imposed for unrelated matters.
Lorraine Mustard, defending, said in mitigation: “It is clear one of the girls contacted him, not the other way around, so there is no element of grooming.
“He should not have responded in the way he did, but there was, to put it neutrally, mutual compliance.
“Mr Waites has learning difficulties, but he does understand his behaviour was unacceptable and says it will not happen again.”
The Recorder, Mr Neil Davey QC, jailed Waites for 14 months.
“You may have learning difficulties,” he told Waites.
“But I am satisfied you know the difference between right and wrong.
“You took advantage of two young girls.
“I am also satisfied you present a danger to other young girls which is why I have made the appropriate orders.”
Waites was banned from working with children, and banned from having any unsupervised contact with any girl under 16.
He must register as a sex offender for 10 years.
