Sunderland pervert caught with covert pictures of schoolgirl

Sports studies graduate Robert Laing, 31, had a collection of 33 secret photographs of the teenager and her friends on his phone and used Facebook to send her explicit images and chat.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the victim saw the sickening correspondence when she checked her social media account during a lunch break at school earlier this year and was left "shaken and shocked".

It was when police seized his phone that the pictures of the teen, taken when she was out and about around town and from her Facebook page, were found.

Prosecutor Alec Burns told the court Laing, of High Street, Sunderland, said during one message to the girl "I want to be your slave" and offered to pay her £2,000 to commit a sex act on him.

The court heard Laing sent videos of himself performing a sex act. He also sent the victim a picture of herself and described in graphic detail what he would like to do to her.

Mr Burns said after Laing was arrested and his phone was searched more pictures were found and added: "There were pictures of her in town, 33, with her and her friends and also pictures he had taken, of her, from her Facebook profile."

The court heard Laing denied sending the messages and claimed his Facebook profile had been hacked.

He pleaded guilty to causing a child to watch a sexual act and sexual communication with a child.

Judge Sarah Mallett sentenced him to 21 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, with rehabilitation requirements.

Laing must abide by a sexual harm prevention order and sign the sex offenders register for ten years.

Judge Mallett said the messages were "grossly offensive" and added: "She was shaken and shocked and there's real risk her long term wellbeing will be affected."

The judge said she accepted Laing was sorry and deeply ashamed of what he did, at a time when his life had "spiralled downwards".

Sue Hirst, defending, said Laing, who had been studying a masters in sports occupational therapy but has now deferred his final year, had gone through a family bereavement and understands how appalling his behaviour was.