Bit a 13-year-old girl in intimate areas, before going on to send her sexual messages.

Sheffield Man Sentenced for Sex Offenses

A Sheffield man who bit a 13-year-old girl in intimate areas, before sending her messages that were sexually suggestive, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Geoffrey Hurt, 38, was found guilty of three sex offenses at Sheffield Crown Court. He had claimed the biting was part of a "play fight" and denied sending the messages, but jurors rejected his account.

Sentencing Hurt, Judge David Dixon said: "A man who is interested in biting young girls in a sexual way, as the jury found you had, is clearly a worry. The jury accepted it wasn't a play fight."

The court heard that Hurt bit the girl on two different intimate areas of her body and later sent her messages asking for photos and making inappropriate sexual remarks.

Judge Dixon said: "You were asking if she could send photos, and therefore you were soliciting images. You asked her if she would ever go with an older man... while you said you didn't mean you, you clearly did. You had a sexual interest in her, that's what this has all been about."

Hurt was also found to have accessed web links with sexual activity involving children, despite his claims to the contrary.

Judge Dixon continued: "You have an unhealthy interest in young girls. Your continued denials, in addition to your lies to the jury, have led me to believe you do not have a realistic prospect of rehabilitation. This, coupled with the seriousness of your offending, means that only a custodial sentence can be justified."

Hurt was also made the subject of a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, a condition of which prohibits contact with girls under the age of 18. He was also told he must register as a sex offender.