A Hull man who operated a social media-based drug network has admitted offering a teenage girl drugs and money in exchange for sexual acts.
David Young, 55, of Greylees Avenue, pleaded guilty at Hull Crown Court on Monday (May 19) to paying for sexual services of a child. He had previously admitted being concerned in the supply of class B drugs and possession with intent to supply class B drugs.
He initially pleaded guilty to the drugs charges on August 19 last year but denied the sexual offences until this week which “prolonged the victim’s distress” and “delayed justice”.
Police began their investigations in November 2021 after receiving information about illegal drug activity linked to a social media account. It was discovered that a man was operating a page offering drugs for sale. He had actively been supplying drugs and had engaged in explicit communications with a 16-year-old girl.
Messages revealed meetings had been arranged with the teenager, initially for the sale of cannabis, but later offering drugs and money in exchange for sexual acts. Further messages also included requests for nude images, and explicit photos were sent.
Young was arrested on January 24, 2022, on suspicion of paying for sexual services of a child and for being concerned in the supply of class B drugs. Police carried out a search of a property on Alexandra Court, in Hull, which led to herbal cannabis, cannabis edibles, baking equipment, and pricing tools being seized.
Forensic analysis of Young’s mobile phone revealed additional evidence of drug supply, including marketing messages, product menus, and pricing details.
The street value of the drugs seized was estimated at more than £6,000.
Detective Sergeant Stuart Fox from Humberside Police’s Child Sexual Exploitation team, who led the investigation, said: ‘’David Young operated a drug-selling social media account, using it not only to distribute illegal substances but also to coerce, manipulate, and exploit a vulnerable teenage girl.
“After initially pleading guilty to the drug related offences but denying anything related to paying for sexual services of a child, Young then made the victim wait exactly nine months before changing his mind and pleading guilty to paying for sexual services of a child at Hull Crown Court on Monday (19 May). This only prolonged the victim’s distress, delayed justice, and the lengthy legal process meant the victim had to endure months of uncertainty.
“I want to commend the incredible bravery of the victim and their family for coming forward. Taking that first step is never easy, and they have shown immense courage throughout this process. Their determination, alongside the vigilance and commitment from partnering agencies, has been instrumental in ensuring justice could be pursued.
‘’Thanks to comprehensive investigative work, we uncovered the extent of Young’s criminal activity.”
Join our WhatsApp Community for the latest crime news
He added: ‘’While this outcome cannot undo the harm caused, it marks an important step in ensuring that Young is held responsible for his actions, and he will now face the consequences of his crimes.
“We remain committed to holding offenders accountable and will continue to seek justice for those affected by crimes of this nature and I hope this case serves as a reminder of the dangers posed by individuals who use online platforms to facilitate criminal behaviour. We urge anyone with concerns or information about similar activity to report it.
“We take reports of sexual offences extremely seriously, and we will continue to pursue justice for those impacted by such predatory behaviour.
“We encourage anyone who believes they have been a victim of, or has witnessed crimes of this nature, to contact us via our non-emergency number 101. Always call 999 in an emergency or if a crime is ongoing.”
Young was released on bail and is due to be sentenced at Hull Crown Court on Monday, June 16.