January 2014
Sex offender groomed 13-year-old Sunderland girl on Facebook, calling her his ‘sexy mackem’
AN internet groomer bombarded a 13-year-old schoolgirl he called his “sexy mackem” with 20 calls a day.
Alan Evans, 38, exchanged more than 1,200 messages with the youngster, and travelled to the Stadium of Light to meet her, Newcastle Crown Court was told.
Their relationship was exposed when the girl’s father checked her Facebook account and saw the messages.
Prosecutor Bob Spragg told the court: “The messages in general showed both parties referencing each other as ‘babe’, declaring love for each other, arranging to meet, reference to her age.”
The court heard during the conversations, Evans had told the youngster they could not have a physical relationship because of her young age. Mr Spragg added: “One message confirms he has feelings for a 13-year-old and knows it is wrong.”
Evans, of Canning Street, Benwell, admitted grooming on the basis there was “kissing and cuddling and nothing beyond that” when they met up in person.
Judge Jeremy Freedman sentenced Evans to a community order for three years with supervision and programme requirements.
Evans must sign the sex offenders’ register for five years and abide by a life-long sexual offences prevention order.
The judge said he accepted Evans had not tried to push the girl into a sexual activities but added: “This is a serious matter, you behaved very wrongly in having that relationship.”
