Man groomed teenage girls escalating to sexual acts in his car.

Man Jailed for Sexually Abusing Two Teenage Girls

A man who admitted to having a "sexual interest in teenage girls" was sentenced to six years in prison for repeatedly sexually abusing two girls over a period of 18 months.

Laurence Gladwin, 43, of Young Street, Withernsea, was found guilty of seven offenses of sexual activity with a girl while in a position of trust and four offenses of making indecent images of children.

The court heard that Gladwin initially groomed the girls with "friendly banter" before escalating his behavior to sending them explicit messages and engaging in sexual acts with them.

He encouraged the girls to send him intimate pictures of themselves and even sent a video to one of them depicting himself committing a sex act.

One of the victims described feeling "out of her depth" and "pressured" into engaging in sexual activity with Gladwin. The other victim initially denied any involvement but later revealed the details of the abuse.

The court heard that Gladwin's actions had a significant impact on the victims. One victim stated that she felt exploited and emotionally damaged, while the other victim felt used and struggled to trust people.

Gladwin's lawyer argued that his client regretted his actions and had shown remorse. However, the judge noted that Gladwin had attempted to contact one of the victims after the police got involved, asking her not to say anything.

Judge Kate Rayfield stated that Gladwin's actions were "selfish" and did not demonstrate genuine remorse. She sentenced him to six years in prison and imposed a sexual harm prevention order for life. Gladwin will also have to register as a sex offender for life.