A man in his twenties, previously branded “a danger to teenage girls”, is facing a third prison sentence in four years for sexual activity with underage females.

Aaron Paul Reece Whitwell served a 33-month sentence, imposed at Durham Crown Court in December 2020, for an offence involving a 14-year-old girl, having told her he was 17, when he was, actually, aged 22.

He was back before the court in September last year when he received a seven-year extended sentence after admitting six counts of sexual activity with a girl aged 13 to 15 and causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Whitwell was also made subject of a 20-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and lifetime registration as a sex offender as part of the sentence.

(Image: Durham Constabulary) Those offences were committed while Whitwell was on police bail prior to court appearances relating to the first offence.

He was brought from HMP Northumberland for his latest appearance at a plea hearing at the court, facing a further eight-count indictment.

The charges were put to the, now, 27-year-old defendant, formerly of West Cornforth, County Durham.

He pleaded guilty to six counts of sexual activity with a child, a girl aged 14 at the time, plus one offence each of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and breaching a SHPO.

Those offences were committed while Whitwell was on licence following his release at the mid-point of the 33-month sentence, between November 2022 and January 2023.

(Image: Durham Constabulary) Chris Morrison, for the defendant, said Whitwell is finding his time in custody, “extremely difficult.”

Mr Morrison told the court: “He’s been bullied, threatened and attacked on many occasions.

“It’s having a very adverse effect on him.

“In addition, he has sought refuge in the consumption of the drug ‘spice’ as a coping mechanism.”

(Image: The Northern Echo) Judge Jo Kidd said she will require details of his convictions in 2020 and 2023 plus a report assessing the defendant's perceived “dangerousness” from the last sentencing hearing, when she comes to pass sentence next month.

“I won’t need a further pre-sentence report, just details from his offender manager in prison as to how his latest sentence is affecting him, which can be included in his personal mitigation.”

See more court stories from The Northern Echo, by clicking here

Extended sentence for County Durham man considered a 'danger' to underage girls

Paedophile, 21, pretended to be 17 to groom 14-year-old girl

Newton Aycliffe man groomed young girl into sex acts

Subscribe to The Northern Echo now, by clicking here

The court heard Whitwell will not be eligible for parole until 2027.

Judge Kidd told the defendant: “Your sentencing will take place next month, when there will be an update from your offender manager from prison and there will be various details on your previous assessments of dangerousness.”

The defendant was returned to prison to continue his previous sentence, prior to being sentenced for the latest offences, on November 26.