A KERBSIDE sex pest who got his kicks from asking lone young female pedestrians smutty questions, was last night (Friday February 12) jailed for 13 months.

Andrew Baker, an Iceland store branch manager, amused himself on his drive home by pulling his car over to make the sexually suggestive remarks to young women.

Durham Crown Court heard that he approached at least five young women, three of whom were aged 15, asking them, variously, where he might be able to find a prostitute or someone who would perform a sex act on him.

The shocked victims, all “complete strangers”, made token responses and each hurried away, worried that Baker may follow up his initial verbal approach.

Martin Towers, prosecuting, said 32-year-old, Baker, of Princes Road, Seaham, targeted the 15-year-olds, two in Spennymoor, and one in Ferryhill, between January and March last year.

Mr Towers said one had the presence of mind to take down the registration number of the car, when she saw it in the same area of Grayson Road, Spennymoor, a week after she was approached by Baker.

Reading from the three girls’ victim statements, they each spoke of how it has left them fearful of being out alone, worried that someone may pull over at any moment, while they have variously suffered nightmares, panic attacks and now have a general lack of confidence and trust in strangers.

The court heard Baker has a previous caution and conviction for performing a sex act on himself, while naked, in full view of women living opposite and passing his home address, in 2003 and 2004.

He only admitted the latest offences, three counts of causing or inciting a child to incite in sexual activity, on the day of his scheduled trial, last month, during the course of which the victims were all going to have to give evidence.

Jane Waugh, mitigating, said: “Of course, these were unpleasant things for a driver to pull over and say to young girls.

“But, there was no follow up, even though he may have had the opportunity to get out of the car and go after them.

“It was ac completely offensive schoolboy attempt at titillation by saying shocking things to people.”

She said it was a further example of the “exhibitionist behaviour” he displayed in his previous offending.

But, Miss Waugh urged Judge Christopher Prince to avoid passing an immediate prison sentence, as Baker could work in the community to address his behaviour, while still earning an income to support his wife and young family.

Judge Prince said: “It’s submitted it was not pre-meditated, but you were driving round looking for girls to approach in this way.

“These were direct approaches to strangers in the late evening when they were alone, when you happened to come across them.

“It’s disturbing behaviour and extremely frightening for this girls, who were lone, and vulnerable on the street at night, while there was also a disparity in age.

Jailing Baker, the judge also made him subject of restrictions, preventing him having future unsupervised contact with girls under 16, under the terms of a sexual harm prevention order.