April 2010

Facebook pervert targeted teen girls

A man who slept with two schoolgirls he contacted on Facebook has been jailed for more than three years.

Russell Hepworth, 31, of Hutton Cranswick, targeted a 13-year-old girl at Driffield train station in April 2008.

He took the teenager home with him and slept with her while police were searching for her.

At the time, the girl would not tell divulge what had happened.

Despite police warning him to stay away from her, Hepworth continued contacting her through Facebook.

In December 2008, Hepworth then slept with her 14-year-old friend when they visited him at his flat in Eastgate, Driffield.

He plied the pair with drink and slept with one girl as her naked friend watched.

The girls were found by the police in Driffield town centre and arrested for drunk and disorderly behaviour.

A jury at Hull Crown Court found Hepworth guilty of two counts of sexual activity with a child.

Mr Justice Penry-Davy added 14 days to the three-year prison sentence for Contempt of Court after he swore at a police officer as he left court.

The judge said: “I find that when you did leave court you did swear at the officer and that’s unacceptable behaviour in court.

“So far as the offences are concerned there are two counts involving two young girls.

“I accept that you have no history of sex offending and this was not a case involving sophisticated grooming of children, but as you concede and as you well know, the law is designed to protect children from themselves as well as from predatory behaviour from adults.

“In that regard this offending is regarded as serious.”

Hepworth was given a Sex Offenders’ Prevention Order, banning him from working with children under 16, either paid or voluntary.

He must also not have any custody, care or control of any female under 16 and he is not to sleep at any premises where there are female children under 16.

Hepworth was further banned from contacting females under 16 by internet sites, phone, post or face to face.

He was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.