Snapchat pervert jailed after trying to start sexual relationship with teenage girl

Callum Jennings, 25, had already served time in prison for attempting to incite a teenage girl into sexual activity when he targeted his new victim on the social media app in October last year.

Jennings began messaging the teenage girl and regularly asked to meet up for sex.

After rejecting each of his advances, the girl grew increasingly uncomfortable with the barrage of messages – at which point one of her male friends became aware of the alarming communication.

The boy – who was angry with the messages knowing Jennings was in his mid-20s – took the victim’s phone and organised a meet-up in Hebburn.

The teenagers then hid in bushes as Jennings arrived at the meeting point before confronting him face-to-face.

Police were subsequently called and two days later officers surprised Jennings by turning up at his place of work. He was arrested and brought into custody.

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

On Monday, March 9, he was jailed for two years and eight months with a four-year extended licence period at Newcastle Crown Court.

He was also placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely and handed a life-time sexual harm prevention order.

Detective Constable Rob Smoult, the officer in charge of the case, welcomed the sentence handed down to Jennings and praised the victims for their bravery.

Det Con Smoult said: “Callum Jennings has proven himself to be a manipulative and persistent offender who pretended he was younger than he was in a desperate bid to initiate an illicit sexual relationship with a schoolgirl.

“Despite the girl constantly rejecting his advances, he continued to message her and others on Snapchat – showing a total disregard for the law and ignoring the strict conditions set out in his sexual harm prevention order.

“When the girl did finally agree to meet him in a car park in Hebburn, Jennings did not expect to be confronted by the victim’s friends - and they were able to provide police with timely and detailed information that led officers from Southern Area Command and the Hebburn neighbourhood team straight to Jennings.

“I would like to praise the victim and her friends for the incredible bravery and maturity shown throughout this case, and I hope they can take some satisfaction knowing that Jennings is now behind bars.

“We will continue to do all we can to protect the most vulnerable in our communities and ensure sexual predators such as Jennings are identified, prosecuted and taken off our streets.”

Jennings was initially convicted on August 19, 2016, following a Dark Justice sting after he attempted to meet what he thought was a 13-year-old girl following sexual grooming and attempted to cause a child to engage in sexual activity.

He was handed a 16-month suspended sentence at Newcastle Crown Court as well as a sexual harm prevention order which forbid him from having contact with children.

Then on March 31, 2017, Jennings was jailed for 22 months for inciting a 14-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity, breaching his prevention order and failing to comply with his suspended sentence.

On Monday, he was sent back to prison following his latest conviction.