Kristoffer Cook 31

Description

Kristoffer Cook was messaging the 15-year-old on the social media app despite being subjected to a sexual harm prevention order

A sex offender has been jailed after police found out he'd been sending sexual messages to a teenage girl on Snapchat.

Pervert Kristoffer Cook was messaging the child on the social media app despite being subjected to a sexual harm prevention order after serving a prison sentence for attempting to incite a child into sexual activity. The 29-year-old had lied to police telling them he did not own any device which could access the internet, but eventually came clean.

Cook, of Fulwell Road, Peterlee, appeared at Durham Crown Court on Tuesday, via link from HMP Durham, to be sentenced for breaching a sexual harm prevention order, failing to comply with notification requirements, and sexual communication with a child. He pleaded guilty to the charges at a previous hearing.

Michael Cahill, prosecuting, said in January this year, Cook - a convicted sex offender - was assigned a police manager who would carry out regular meetings with him. On January 13, the police officer discussed his sexual harm prevention order with him and Cook said he did not own any device which could access the internet. But that was a lie, the court heard.

Mr Cahill said: "On February 28, police received information that the defendant had a Snapchat address. That day, police attended the defendant's parents' address where he was living and asked if he had access to the internet. He produced two basic mobile phones which did not have the internet. The police then cautioned and arrested him. The defendant then became upset and produced an LG mobile phone from the sofa and said he used it to access Snapchat and that he'd let himself down."

The LG phone was later analysed and it was discovered that Cook had been messaging an underage girl on the app. Mr Cahill said Cook asked the girl's age and "asked if she had a bra on and if he could see her bra". Cook later told the girl "I want you".

Cook later admitted purchasing the mobile phone and not telling the police about it and the court heard he had two previous convictions for five offences. In May 2018, he received a suspended sentence for attempting to incite a child into sexual activity. Then, in July 2020, he was jailed for attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. The sexual harm prevention order that he is subjected to lasts until 2028, the court heard.

Mark Styles, defending, said Cook has a learning disability and had a childhood that a probation report described as "grim". He said: "It's clear the defendant really has deficient social skills and had found himself terribly isolated in the community. He has never been in a meaningful relationship and is a vulnerable individual. He is apologetic and feels he has let himself down, he needs some help." He added: "There was potential for more to occur, but it didn't. It was rather limited what took place in the conversation."

Judge James Adkin, the Recorder of Durham, said it was a "very serious breach". He said: "It's clear you wanted more sexual communication with a child and your previous convictions do you no favours. It's not the first time you have done these sort of things."

Cook was jailed for 20 months.