Dangerous South Tyneside sex offender confronted by schoolchildren after trying to meet underage girl for sex

Serial predator Callum Jennings had contacted potential victims on Snapchat and tried to persuade them to meet up with him for sex.

Newcastle Crown Court heard when the 25-year-old arrived to meet a teen last October he was confronted by her friends, who contacted the police.

Jennings, who was already on the sex offenders register and the subject of a sexual harm prevention order, left the scene but was tracked down and arrested.

Jennings, formerly of Pine Street, Jarrow, admitted two charges of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, grooming and breach of a sexual harm prevention order.

Judge Tim Gittins has now sentenced him to two years and eight months behind bars, with a four-year extended licence period, which is imposed on offenders who are assessed as dangerous.

The judge told him: "I am satisfied, having read all the material about you, that, at present, you do pose a significant risk of causing serious harm to your target group of victims, namely young children, young females under the age of 16."

The court heard Jennings had been given a suspended sentence in 2016 when he tried to meet a 13-year-old but was snared by paedophile hunters Dark Justice, who set up fake profiles online to snare adults looking for illegal contact with children.

He was back in court in 2017 and sentenced to 22 months behind bars for trying to incite a "real" teenage girl to engage in sexual activity.

Prosecutor Emma Dowling told the court it was last summer Jennings sent random Snapchat messages to a girl asking if they could meet for sex but was quickly blocked by the victim.

She said she was left "frightened just at the thought of a man trying to meet young girls for sex".

Miss Dowling said Jennings sent similar sexual requests to another underage stranger, who did not block him.

In October last year, the teen was out with her friends and received messages from Jennings that made her "uncomfortable".

Miss Dowling said the girl confided in a male pal who was with her group and added: "He took her phone and sent messages to the defendant, pretending to be the complainant, arranging to meet up.

"The plan was he would assault the defendant.

"An arrangement was made to meet at the park. The defendant said he would be using a red motor vehicle."

Miss Dowling said the victim and her two friends "hid in the bushes" and saw a red car arrive.

She added: "The defendant messaged her to come to his car. She refused and told him to come to her.

"He did get out of the car, went over to her and asked if she was going to his house.

"She wouldn't go with him.

"At that point her friends came out of the bushes and confronted him and he left the area."

The victim said she has been left "dubious and untrusting" of people and wants to forget about what happened and get on with her life.

Brian Hegarty, defending, said Jennings has complex issues including depression and requires intervention to reduce the risk he poses.

Mr Hegarty said Jennings has not resorted to "threats or coercion" during his offending.

The court heard Jennings is an "intelligent young man" who has had led an "industrious" life until his first conviction in 2016.

Jennings has to sign the sex offenders register and abide by sexual harm prevention order for life.