Man sent girl, 13, explicit messages

A pervert who exchanged sexually explicit text messages with a 13 year-old Norfolk girl was caught after he persuaded her to send him a parcel that included a revealing photo of herself, a court heard yesterday

David Wagstaff, 40, came into contact with the girl by accident after texting a wrong number but then struck up a relationship with the girl sending her sexual messages, Norwich Crown Court heard.

But the girl's mother became suspicious when the girl asked her to send a parcel to Wagstaff who lives in St Neots in Cambridgeshire.

Lori Tucker, prosecuting, said: “When the mother opened the parcel she found an explicit photo of her daughter, items of clothing and a sexually explicit letter written by her daughter.”

As a result of that she checked her daughter's mobile phone and found 50 messages had been sent to Wagstaff's mobile and saw the content was of a sexual nature.

She phoned Wagstaff and asked if he knew her daughter was only 13.

Mrs Tucker said: “He said yes and as a result of that the matter was reported to the police.”

Mrs Tucker said Wagstaff had told the girl his age and she had told him at first she was 15.

“The girl said she first started receiving calls from Wagstaff asking her to do sexual things.”

She said Wagstaff had sent her money to top up her phone so she could text him and also on two occasions had invited the girl to visit him- although they had never met.

When arrested Wagstaff told police he thought the girl was 15 and admitted he asked her to send him a photo and something to cuddle.

He said he was “lonely and frustrated.”

After hearing that Wagstaff had learning difficulties and was “highly vulnerable” Judge Alasdair Darroch spared him jail but placed him on a three-year supervision order under which he will attend the sex offender's treatment programme so he can get the help he needs.

He also placed him on the sex offender's register for five years.

“This was a young girl and she got involved in some unpleasant and disgusting correspondence with you.”

However he accepted Wagstaff had not stalked the girl or corrupted her.

However he warned Wagstaff that if he breached the order he would be jailed.

Charles Kellett, mitigating, said that Wagstaff had learning difficulties and said: “His understanding of the opposite sex is very limited indeed.”

He said that it would be beyond his capabilities to come to Norwich to visit the girl.

“He is a highly vulnerable individual. He would be picked on if sent to prison. This is a man who needs help.”