A PERVERT who forced his teenage victim to keep his 'grubby secret' has been jailed for more than 12 years.

Christopher Pearson even took to social media to label his victim a paedophile and published his address after setting up a fake profile in a desperate attempt to get him to change his story.

The 34-year-old's behaviour was branded 'abhorrent' when Judge Jonathan Carroll sentenced him for a catalogue of sexual offences carried out several years ago.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the horrific abuse lasted for more than year as Pearson groomed his young victim to satisfy his deviant sexual needs.

The Northern Echo: Christopher PearsonChristopher Pearson

Judge Carroll sentenced Pearson to 12 years and five months after his 'grubby secret' was revealed.

He said: "You had them (fake profiles) because you intended to use them to in affect intimidate, threaten and cajole, and try your damnedest to frighten your victim off. You did it in the most wicked way.

"You put out a Facebook naming him and where he lives and telling all and sundry he was a paedophile, when in fact he was nothing less than the victim of a paedophile.

"We know how just how abhorrent the public find this crime and we know from experience how when the name gets out onto the street – street justice can frequently follow and it can be vicious and dangerous.

"You put his name out there in a way that put him at considerable risk, not just him, but his family who live who lived in the house. That was just wicked as well as wrong and untruthful.

Shaun Dodds, prosecuting, had told the court how the victim's life had been devastated by the abuse.

In a victim impact statement, he said Pearson took advantage of his vulnerabilities and hurt him leaving him with huge trust issues.

Mr Dodds said Pearson had 'groomed' his victim by letting him use his Xbox and offering to buy him games to play together.

Pearson, of Hundens Lane, Darlington, pleaded guilty to sexual assault, sexual activity without consent, sexual activity with a child, witness intimidation and failing to comply with sexual offences notification orders.

The court heard how Pearson also had police cautions for contacting young boys on social media and two young boys from a care home were found in his house.

Andrew Stranex, in mitigation, Pearson accepted he would face a lengthy sentence after his conviction.

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