David Sadler, 37, went to jail with his life “in tatters” after he sent explicit messages to an underage girl.
His conversation with the teenager quickly became sexual and intimate as he encouraged her to take part in sexual activity.
No sexual activity took place, but David Sadler’s behaviour left the girl with feelings of fear, isolation, stress, worry and sleep difficulties.
Cleveland Police officers went to his home in April last year after receiving information from the National Crime Agency, and found the graphic messages on a phone.
David Sadler, of Milfoil Close, Marton Manor, Middlesbrough, denied having a sexual interest in her and claimed the messages were fantasy.
David Sadler admitted arranging or facilitating a child sex offence, causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, sexual communication with a child, possessing three indecent images of a child and possessing of an extreme pornographic image – his first conviction.
His barrister said David Sadler was devastated by his own “isolated” behaviour and tried to take his own life.
David Sadler was jailed for three years and four months.
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