Man performed sex act in front of young girl he was trying to groom in Hartlepool

Ian Maiden, 48, who admitted carrying out the offences while living in Hartlepool, appeared before Teesside Crown Court to be sentenced.

Maiden, who now lives in Blenheim Road, Doncaster, pleaded guilty to sexual communication with a child and of performing a sexual act in the presence of a child.

Aisha Wadoodi, prosecuting, the girl witnessed that: “He had pulled his trousers down to his knees and was playing with his exposed genitals.”

She said it was later the same day the girl’s mother found messages from the defendant on her daughter’s phone, which he had started sending the previous month.

And, she said it was grooming-type of behaviour.

Ms Wadoodi said of the messages: “He was calling her things like beautiful.

“He told her in one that she had the best bum he had ever seen and he had to stop himself from touching it.

“He asked if she had been wearing black knickers. He asked why she didn’t want to look at him when he was playing with his penis.”

The prosecutor said the youngster told police he had sent her a picture of his penis.

Ms Wadoodi said after being arrested the defendant said: “He had crossed a line.”

She said he was fondling himself because he was bored and that he wasn’t masturbating because he has erectile dysfunction.

In a victim statement the girl’s mother said the youngster had been to counselling because of the effect it had on her.

Stephen Constantine, defending, said his client made full admissions straight away, yet it was years later that he was charged.

He said because of his actions he is parted from his wife, who lives with their three youngest children, and his eldest daughter will not associate with him.

Mr Constantine said: “He is at somewhat of a loss to explain why he behaved the way he did.”

He said he has also sought help from organisations.

The barrister said: “The risk of him re-offending has been assessed as low.”

Judge Peter Armstrong said both the defendant and the victim and her family had waited far too long for this case to be dealt with.

He sentenced Maiden to four months in prison, suspended for two years, saying he had to undergo the sex offender treatment programme. He was also given a sexual harm prevention order which will last for ten years.