Man continued sexual contact with girl after he found out true age

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.

- By MARK NAYLOR

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.