A man urged an underage girl to meet him for a sex after online grooming while awaiting a court appearance over indecent images of children found on his phone.

Jordan Lowe claimed he was unaware of the age of the girl, with whom he had exchanged messages on Snapchat for several weeks, but a jury took the view that the girl had made it clear to him, at least twice, that she was underage.

Teesside Crown Court was told that the pair had even discussed whether or not to wait before having a sexual relationship, but Lowe went ahead with the meeting, which took place earlier this year, in a secluded place, in County Durham.

The court was told “protracted sexual activity” did take place before they were disturbed by a passer-by.

The Northern Echo: Jordan Lowe, jailed at Teesside Crown Court for sex offences committed on a 15-year-old girl

Lowe was due to appear in court three days later after being found with 101 indent images of children on his phone, in May last year.

The images, one in video form, included 36 in the most serious category, featuring penetrative sexual activity involving girls aged from six to 16.

Philip Morley, prosecuting, said when a second phone was examined after the sexual liaison with the girl came to light, the messaging prior to the meeting was found along with two images of her undressed, which were solicited by Lowe.

The defendant, then 23, of Jarvis Road, Peterlee, denied charges of meeting a girl following grooming and engaging in sexual activity with a child, when he appeared at Durham Crown Court, in April.

He did admit five counts of making indecent images of children, submitting two of those pleas on the day his trial was due to start.

The trial took place at the Teesside court in September, when the jury found the, by then, 24-year-old defendant guilty of both counts he denied.

He appeared via video link to the court, from Durham Prison, where he is now on remand, for yesterday’s (Thursday November 2) sentencing hearing.

His counsel, Caroline McGurk, said the defendant has no previous convictions and his contact with the girl only began at the start of the year, so it had not been going on long when the offences took place.

Miss McGurk said he is now remorseful and no longer remains, “in denial”.

“He has taken steps to acknowledge his behaviour isn’t what it should have been and so there is the possibility of rehabilitation.”

Miss McGurk said it was his desire to be in a stable relationship, and because of the victim’s apparent enthusiastic responses, someone who previously lacked self-confidence was given, “some form of self-esteem.”

She told the court: “He knows he should take reasonable steps to ensure nothing of this nature happens in future.

“The prospect of rehabilitation is likely as he is committed to learn from his mistakes.”

Recorder Andrew Dallas, who presided over the trial, told Lowe he was satisfied the girl had made it clear to her what her true age was.

He added: "You knew you should not have been doing this.

“Worse, you persuaded her to send you pictures of herself undressed and retained those for your own sexual gratification, and then arranged to meet her in secretive conditions.

“Not wanting anyone else to know she was going to meet you, you took her to some quiet grounds, where sexual activity took place between you.”

Recorder Dallas told Lowe that having assessed the evidence, he believed the girl was, “giving reluctant consent to many of the activities into which you were leading her on".

He added: “She agreed to sexual intercourse which continued until you were disturbed by a passer-by.

“I’m satisfied you lead her along from the outset.

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“It’s made worse for you because at the time you were striking up this relationship you were awaiting a court appearance after having been caught with indecent images of children on a phone, seized from you on an earlier occasion by a police officer.”

Imposing a total sentence of five years and six months’ imprisonment, Recorder Dallas also put in place a restraining order, relating to the girl, and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, restricting his future online activity, both “indefinitely”.

Lowe will also be subject of notification as a sex offender, for life.