Locations
Sceptre Road, Liverpool, Merseyside, L11
Description
A 21-year-old man has been sentenced after he arranged to meet a 15-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity following a British Transport Police investigation.
Thomas Kasper, of Sceptre Road, Liverpool, pleaded guilty to meeting or arranging to meet a child following sexual grooming, sexual communication with a child and non-penetrative sexual activity with a child.
He was sentenced to nine months suspended for 18 months on Wednesday 10 July at Liverpool Crown Court.
He was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for seven years and given a seven year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
The court heard how on, Sunday 21 May last year, officers patrolling Liverpool Lime Street station spotted Kasper with a child engaged in kissing and hugging.
Concerned by what they had witnessed given the visible age difference, officers stopped the pair and engaged them in conversation with Kasper telling them he was 20 years old and the girl just 15.
Speaking to officers separately Kasper admitted they were dating but claimed no sexual activity had taken place. He was arrested for grooming and causing or inciting a child to engage in a sexual activity.
In interview he admitted knowing the child was underage but again claimed nothing of a sexual nature had taken place between them.
Kasper was bailed while investigations continued with officers examining the mobile phone he had with him at the time.
After examination officers found text messages between the pair which were clearly of a sexual nature.
CCTV images from the station on the day of his arrest also showed evidence of a sexual relationship.
Investigating officer Sergeant Stuart Maw said: “Despite Kasper’s claims that the relationship was not in any way sexual, his actions on CCTV from the station clearly demonstrated otherwise as did the text messages which he had sent to the girl.
“Our immediate concern was safeguarding the child who Kasper had evidently groomed for sexual purposes and collecting evidence that would result in preventing others falling prey to him.
“Now he has been issued with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order it is hoped Kasper will steer clear of contacting any underage girls in the future, not least for fear of imprisonment.”