A pervert who sent sexually explicit messages and photos to a teenager has been jailed.
Lewis Hart admitted sending the messages as well as sending harassing messages to a woman, along with a photograph of his penis. Teesside Crown Court heard that Hart, 36, was initially arrested after the girl brought the six images to light.
He was arrested and released on police bail. However, while on bail, Hart started harassing a woman with unwanted calls and messages. He then sent the woman an explicit photo.
Jon Harley, prosecuting, told the Middlesbrough court that Hart was messaging the married woman and then sent her a photograph of his genitals. In a victim impact statement the woman said she was ‘left feeling sick’ and a ‘nervous wreck’.
Mr Harley said Hart had one previous conviction, which was not of a similar nature. John Nixon, mitigating, said letters submitted to the court showed how low and desperate the defendant had been at the time.
“It doesn’t excuse what happened, but it was completely out of character,” the defence barrister added. “Something which he bitterly regrets.
“This is a case where there is a very good prospect of rehabilitation. Little likelihood of further offences being committed. There’s hope for the future.”
Mr Nixon said Hart, of Blackmore Close in Guisborough, was currently at university trying to make a life for himself and asked the judge to consider a suspended sentence. Judge Timothy Stead said: “You and your family have had difficult times. The letters mitigating on your behalf confirm it.”
He said he acknowledged Hart and his family had been through difficult and stressful times and that his mental health had not been good. He said it was right to say these crime had been ‘out of character’ and that people spoke of him as ‘being a good man’.
However, he said Hart had sent six images to a child and added: “Some people would find them of a troubling and of a sexual nature.” Judge Stead added that the harassment of the woman and the explicit photo sent to her were done while on police bail.
“It was done to cause her alarm, distress or humiliation,” the judge added. Hart was sentenced to 16 months in prison and placed on a sexual harm prevention order and a restraining order for ten years.
Speaking after sentencing, Officer in the case Detective Sergeant Natasha Barber said: “His actions have forever changed the life of this child though I’m glad that at least he pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity. The victim in this case showed immense strength in reporting this to the police.
“Although this was an evidence-led prosecution meaning the victim was not required to give evidence, denying his actions would have resulted in extending the ordeal the child had already gone through. I hope they can now begin to move forward with their life.”
You can report recent or non-recent abuse of any kind, to Cleveland Police on the 101 number at any time of day or night.
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