A TEENAGER who had sex with an underage girl and sent another child a picture of his genitals has avoided being sent to jail.

Oliver Shields also took photographs and videos of the young girl performing sex acts on him.

His abuse only came to an end when he sent an even younger girl the indecent image of himself and her parents called the police.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the 18-year-old’s sexual offending started on his 17th birthday when he had sex with the first girl.

Shaun Dodds, prosecuting, said: “The police seized his phone which contained pictures and videos of the victim having sexual intercourse with the defendant.”

Dealing with the charge relating to the second victim, Mr Dodds added: “She was a year younger than the other victim, he sent a picture of his genitals to her.

“He still sent her the photograph after she had told him her age.”

The court heard how Shields stored the pictures and videos under a false name to avoid detection but there was no evidence that he had shared them with anyone else.

Shields, of Grassholme, Darlington, pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a child; causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity; causing a child to watch a sexual act; and three counts of making indecent images of children.

His legal representative, Duncan McReddie, said the defendant was immature and struggled to talk to girls of his own age.

Mr McReddie said Shields had pleaded guilty to the charges more than a year ago.
Judge Jonathan Carroll passed a ten month detention and training order, suspended for two years and issued him with a ten-year restraining order to keep him away from his victims.

The judge told Shields he would have been facing immediate custody if he had been an adult at the time of his offending.

He said: “What is clear is that you are not comfortable in the presence and company of girls of your own age and find yourself in company of girls younger than yourself.

“These girls need protecting, they are children, they are still at the start of their journey in life and still don’t know what is best for them.

“That is why the adults in their lives are expected to make these decision for them.

“The expectation to do the right thing starts with you and you didn’t do the right thing.”

Shields was also ordered to carry out 50 rehabilitation activity requirement days to address his behaviour and was told to sign the notification requirement for ten years.