Man jailed over sex abuse of girl (13)

A MAN has been jailed for four years after admitting three counts of sexual activity with a child.

A MAN has been jailed for four years after admitting three counts of sexual activity with a child.

Mark Hastie (20) also pleaded guilty to inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and possessing indecent images of children.

Police began investigating Hastie after the father of a 13-year-old girl reported concerns about an older man trying to contact his daughter. 

A force spokesman said: “When specialist officers spoke with the teenager, she disclosed sexual abuse.

“Hastie was arrested and his electronic devices seized, which revealed he had been sending inappropriate messages to his victim, encouraging her to engage in sexual activity with him, and had indecent images of children.”

Hastie, of Fleming Way in Flanderwell, was jailed at Sheffield Crown Court on Friday. He was also given a ten-year sexual harm prevention order and placed on the sex offenders' register for life.

Det Insp John Fitzgibbons, who leads Rotherham’s public protection unit, said: “Hastie preyed on a young, vulnerable girl for his own sexual gratification and his victim has been very brave in coming forward and telling us what happened.

“Our dedicated multi-agency child sexual exploitation team, Evolve, in Rotherham has been instrumental in supporting the victim, gathering evidence and bringing the case before the courts.

“Our commitment to tackling child sexual exploitation in all its forms continues in earnest and we will take whatever action we can to safeguard children from harm.”

Anyone with concerns about CSE should contact the police on 101 or the new national helpline Say Something on 116 000. Always call 999 in an emergency.

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