A LONER targeted teenage girls over the internet for sex, threatening to rape and kill them if they did not comply with his demands, a court heard.

Matthew Crouch, 22, used a computer at his local library to befriend two of his victims, aged 13 and 15, via the social networking website Facebook.

Two more victims, a 17-yearold and a 15-year-old, were targeted after Crouch discovered their phone numbers and sent text threats.

Ian Mullarkey, prosecuting, said Crouch sent a “friend request” to one of the girls via Facebook and, after she accepted, the pair exchanged phone numbers.

“When the victim refused his suggestion that she commit a sex act on him, Crouch said he knew where she lived and would get one of his mates to put a box of matches through the door of her home and set fire to it,” said Mr Mullarkey.

“He also told her ‘I am going to rape you and kill you tomorrow.

Good luck’,” he added.

Crouch sent a text to one complainant, asking her to have a night in with him, but the girl refused asking him to leave her alone.

He then sent another message saying: “Fine. Watch your back. You’re dead.”

One of the victims, who exchanged emails with Crouch via Facebook agreed to meet him and he told her that if she ever cheated on him he would “see her in heaven”.

Mr Mullarkey said the defendant gave her a silver bracelet with love hearts on and kissed her against her wishes.

Another met Crouch at a house party, where he groped her breasts after trying to cuddle and kiss her.

Crouch, formerly of Lumley Court, Hebburn, South Tyneside, who was living in Hartlepool at the time of the offences, admitted a number of charges, including sexual activity with a child and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, harassment and threats to kill.

They dated between September 1, last year and February 28.

Christine Egerton, mitigating, said Crouch was an “isolated individual” with learning difficulties and problems with social skills.

She said: “What he did was criminal, but it was also childish and immature. He is very sorry.”

Judge Howard Crowson adjourned sentencing saying he wanted more guidance about an assessment provided by the Probation Service, which described Crouch as a high risk in terms of his dangerousness.