A pervert branded 'a danger to young boys' has been jailed for four years

Jordan Shipman exchanged sexually explicit messages with a man posing as a teenager 'Andy' while on gay dating app Grindr.

The 26-year-old sent sexually explicit messages outlining what he would like to do with the 'teenager' before the alerted the police.

Dr Chris Wood, prosecuting, said the defendant attempted to pass himself off as a teenager when he engage in the sexual communication.

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The court heard the depraved details of Shipman's sexual desires when he was attempting to arrange a meeting between the pair.

Jordan Shipman

Dr Wood said the defendant also sent a picture of genitals to the man.

Following his arrest in October last year, Shipman told police officers he was sexually attracted to boys as young as 13.

Teesside Crown Court heard how Shipman had a previous conviction for distributing indecent images and had breached the terms of his sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) last summer when he received a 12 month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.

Shipman, of Mansfield Avenue, Thornaby, pleaded guilty to attempting to sexually communicate with a child under 16, encourage or facilitate a child sex offence and breach of his SHPO.

Nicci Horton, in mitigation, said her client had slipped into his old ways while his mother was away but accepted that he fully intended to meet up with the 'teenager' to have sex.

"His pre-sentence report says he is a high risk sexual offender and carries a high risk of further sexual offences," she said.

Miss Horton said he downloaded the Grindr app to meet adults but accepted that he was drawn to the teenager during a 'very candid' police interview.

Judge Stephen Ashurst branded Shipman a danger to young boys as he had every intention of meeting the young boy for sex.

Describing Shipman's case as troubling, the judge sentenced him to four years in prison with an extended four years on licence when he is released from prison.

He said: "You were sexually excited about engaging in sexual activity with the 14-year-old boy. This was not idle talk, you were planning to meet up with a 14-year-old to have sex with him."