A “sugar daddy” builder continued to have intimate sexual contact with a vulnerable teenage girl – and kept a stash of explicit images that she sent to him – even after she confessed to him her true age.
Jonathan Girling got to know the girl as part of his “warped sexual fantasy” after joining a website and meeting her online. She told him at first that she was aged 19 but she later revealed that she was only 17. They had already met up and there had been sexual activity between them but, despite now knowing her real age, he sent her £75 for sexual services or images, Hull Crown Court heard.
Girling, 47, of York Road, Hayton, near Pocklington, admitted arranging or facilitating the sexual exploitation of a 17-year-old girl for sexual services, including prostitution and pornography, on or before August 28, 2023. He also admitted two offences of making indecent images of a child.
Ben Hammersley, prosecuting, said that Girling went onto a “sugar daddy” website where older men could meet younger women for sexual purposes. He quickly came into contact with a 17-year-old girl, although she did not tell Girling her real age at the time.
The website’s rules said that any female involved had to be aged at least 19, the court heard. The girl claimed to be 19. There were discussions about sex and Girling met her on August 28, 2023.
There was sexual activity between them. Later that day, there were exchanges between them on the website and the girl told him that she was, in fact, 17 and not 19, the court heard.
She had already sent indecent images and videos of herself to Girling. At that point, Girling had not committed any offences, the court heard. He was surprised when it came to light that the girl was only 17 and the prosecution accepted that he had a reasonable belief that she was 19 and that she could have passed for being that age.
But, the criminal offences were committed because, despite him then knowing her true age, Girling continued to arrange to have sexual contact with the girl for payment and to receive indecent images from her as well as retaining the earlier ones that she had sent to him.
There were, however, no further meetings between them but he had sent her £75 cash, in three payments of £25, apparently for images sent to him and for the sexual activity that had taken place.
The court heard that there were
seven images in the most serious Category A and 46 in Category C. Girling was arrested on August 30, 2023.
Mr Hammersley said that Girling’s actions were “all part of this warped sexual fantasy”. There was talk between them of sexual abuse involving another person and Girling was getting sexual gratification from this.
Stephen Robinson, mitigating, said that Girling had shown remorse for his actions. He accepted that, once the girl disclosed her true age, he was prepared to carry on the messages. “He had become involved,” said Mr Robinson.
“He does express regret. There is no objection to a sexual harm prevention order. It will be for his good. It will ensure that this sort of thing doesn’t happen again. His phone will be checked periodically.”
Father-of-four Girling had previous convictions but not for anything similar. His risk of further sexual offending had been assessed as low. He was a self-employed builder and he was hardworking, the court heard.
Girling was given a nine-month suspended prison sentence, 20 days’ rehabilitation and a probation service Building Skills programme. He was given a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and he must register as a sex offender for 10 years.