A MAN who made repeated sexual advances to a 14-year-old girl was yesterday (Friday July 31) jailed for three years and four months.

Adam Blackett, who came into contact with the girl following a “friend request” on social media, in the autumn of 2013, rapidly progressed from general chat to sexual matters.

Durham Crown Court heard they spoke online and via mobile phone, with Blackett, then 28, claiming to be aged 18, but the girl thought it was more likely he was 25.

Matthew Bean, prosecuting, said the girl said she did tell Blackett she was, “under 16”.

Mr Bean said photographs were exchanged and the defendant was soon seeking to meet her for sex.

Blackett also offered to give the girl and a friend a lift to see someone who had suffered a family bereavement and said he would waive the £5 offered if she performed oral sex on him, which she refused.

Days later when the girl again needed a lift, Blackett said he only would do so if she, “showed him something”, which she assumed meant naked photos.

Although she then asked him to stop contacting her, he made several unsuccessful attempts to get in touch, before he finally complied.

But he was arrested a short time later and police seized a home computer from which they recovered two indecent images of children.

Mr Bean said a check of search terms Blackett used were indicative of him seeking such material.

When arrested, he initially claimed he thought she was 17, but as more evidence was put to him he made more admissions.

At a recent hearing, however, Blackett, now 30, of Vedra Street, Wearhead, in Weardale, County Durham, admitted meeting a child following sexual grooming, causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and making indecent photographs of a child.

Stephen Constantine, for Blackett, handed in several character references, all speaking highly of the defendant as a hard-working man, of previous good character from a respected family.

Mr Constantine added the defendant, “found himself in turmoil” in the months leading up to the offending, although he did not elaborate on the reasons.

Jailing him, Judge Simon Hickey said although no sexual activity actually took place it was clear what Blackett’s intentions were, from the tone of his messaging and dialogue.

He made Blackett subject of a sexual harm prevention order, preventing him contact females under 16, for ten years.

Blackett will also be subject to registration as a sex offender indefinitely.