January 2011

Paedophile is jailed after contacting 40 young girls

A CONVICTED paedophile who cannot stop himself contacting young girls is behind bars today after breaching his suspended sentence.

Andrew Dart, of the Salvation Army hostel, Fore Street, Ipswich, was originally given a 51-week suspended sentence for grooming a 14-year-old girl by sending her a suggestive message and a picture of his anatomy.

Part of the conditions barred him from communicating electronically with young females.

However, Dart breached his suspended jail term and a sexual offenders’ prevention order (SOPO) when he sent a message to another girl last February, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

The message read: “Hi, you were in my suggestion box. Sorry I meant no offence. What you (sic) like doing. I think you are extremely attractive. Love Andy.”

During their investigation, police discovered Dart had a Facebook page with 80 friends, of which 40 were girls under the age of 16.

Officers interviewed seven of the girls, who were aged between 12 and 15.

The children, and several other older girls, were part of a school network in Wales and were among 77 females who were friends with Dart on Facebook.

Sentencing the 30-year-old to a total of 39 weeks in prison, Judge Patrick O’Brien said Dart had been co-operative with probation officers, but it had not made any difference to his actions.

Judge O’Brien told Dart: “Whatever your inclinations are, this kind of behaviour has simply got to stop.”

The court heard that on October 12 last year further conditions were added to Dart’s SOPO due to concerns about his behaviour, although no charges were brought on that occasion.

This came after Dart had exhibited what was described as “risky behaviour” throughout his dealings with probation officers.

One of the concerns came after he had asked if he could go to a fair in Portman Road, Ipswich. Although he was told it was not appropriate, he went anyway.

On another occasion, it was discovered Dart had been in conversation with two girls aged around 12 and 13 at a bus stop.

Dart was given his original sentence, which was suspended for two years, at Southwark Crown Court in October 2008.

For the eight admitted breaches of his SOPO, Dart was sentenced to 13 weeks in prison. For the admitted breach of his suspended sentence, Dart received a consecutive 26-week jail term.

Further conditions were also added to his SOPO.