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Ryan Bird, from Redcar, raped the child on 1 June 2025 and engaged in sexual activity with her between 18 September 2025 and 18 November 2025.
The 24-year-old exchanged messages on Facebook messenger and Snapchat with the girl detailing how they ‘love’ and ‘miss’ each other and want ‘hugs’.
On Monday 22 December Bird pleaded guilty to rape and engaging in sexual activity with a girl and was remanded in custody.
He appeared at Teesside Crown Court on Tuesday 17 February to be sentenced to 10 years and six months with one year additional on licence.
The court granted an indefinite restraining order to protect the victim from Bird and he was given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and placed on the sex offenders register.
During the hearing, the court heard how on Monday 17 November 2025 police were called to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.
What followed was interviews with the child, her family and other witnesses along with specialist work from the force’s digital forensics unit.
Following this, detectives from Cleveland Police’s child abuse and vulnerable adults team arrested Bird on Tuesday 18 November and he was taken to police custody.
After he was questioned, he was charged on Wednesday 19 November and remanded in custody.
Detective Constable Elliot Shute, from Cleveland Police’s protecting vulnerable people unit, said:
“Bird took advantage of a young child for his own sexual gratification without a thought for the physical and mental abuse that it would bring to her.
“I want to take this opportunity to praise the girl for her bravery in disclosing what had happened to her and that Bird was the offender as well as providing evidence throughout the investigation and court process.
“It goes without saying that what Bird did will have a huge impact on her and her family. I hope knowing he is now in prison will provide some comfort.”