Arranged to meet an underage girl for sex, having spent months grooming her in online.

Man Sentenced for Grooming and Sexually Assaulting Underage Girl

A 20-year-old man, Dave Hirchfield, was sentenced to 26 months in a young offenders institution after admitting to grooming and sexually assaulting an underage girl. The court heard that Hirchfield, from Sheffield, had spent months engaging in online messaging with the girl, who lives in County Durham, before arranging to meet her for sex on February 9th.

The girl's mother had previously discovered the online conversations and blocked Hirchfield on her daughter's phone. However, he resumed contact using a second phone, and the pair discussed meeting in person. The girl's mother contacted police when her daughter went missing and was later found at the roadside, appearing anxious.

During their rendezvous, Hirchfield kissed and touched the girl sexually, and also performed a sex act on himself in her presence. He later asked if she would wait for him for four years when he was released from prison.

In a victim statement, the girl's mother described the experience as "heart-breaking" and said her daughter was unable to talk about it. The court heard that Hirchfield had a difficult upbringing and had been remanded in custody for a month.

Judge Ray Singh sentenced Hirchfield to 26 months in a young offenders institution and imposed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, as well as requiring him to register as a sex offender for the same period.