A convicted sex offender is behind bars after a worried mother of a 14-year-old was sent a graphic, sexual comment by a man on TikTok.

Through her own online research, the girl’s mother suspected the man to be from County Durham and contacted police on Wednesday.

Officers from Durham Constabulary’s Public Protection Unit launched an immediate investigation and identified him as a 64-year-old man from Stanley.

Read more: Actor Tom Hardy is spotted in Teesside over Christmas period

He was quickly arrested, questioned by officers, and charged with breaching a sexual harm prevention order and engaging in sexual communication with a child and remanded into custody.

Keith Stobbart, of Lenin Terrace, Stanley, appeared at Teesside Magistrates’ Court on Thursday where he pleaded guilty to both offences.

Magistrates remanded him into custody to appear at Durham Crown Court for sentence on January 27.

Read next:

If you want to read more great stories, why not subscribe to your Northern Echo for as little as £1.25 a week. Click here

Acting Detective Inspector Katrina Meisuria, from Durham Constabulary’s Public Protection Unit, said: “We work tirelessly to protect children and help prevent them from coming to harm – this work does not stop for the festive break, as this case has shown.

“The officers involved in this investigation were determined to safeguard and get justice for the victim and worked far beyond their usual shift to do so.

“Thanks to the mother’s diligence and quick-thinking, our officers were able to swiftly locate Stobbart, bring him into custody, and help safeguard her daughter.

“This case also highlights the importance of keeping safe online and being aware of your children’s activities on social media.”

For further advice on keeping safe online, visit www.getsafeonline.org