A PAEDOPHILE sexually abused a boy for months after asking him to become his ‘boyfriend’, knowing him to be aged only 14.

Steven Sowerby communicated with the boy for several months on social media sites after contacting him via a dating app.

They exchanged intimate images and Sowerby arranged to meet the boy when his mother was out, and they would have sexual relations in his bedroom.

Durham Crown Court heard there were at least ten such meetings, and on the final one Sowerby offered to buy the boy an Amazon voucher for his X-Box as a bribe to allow him to perform penetrative sexual activity.

Following concerns raised by the boy’s mother after checking her son’s phone, Sowerby, then 33, was arrested in July 2019.

He denied the allegations even after being picked out on an identity parade by the boy.

Sowerby falsely claimed to have lost his mobile phone but police recovered incriminating evidence on his computer tower, which revealed a collection of 675 indecent images of boys, while Sowerby had also set up a fake profile posing as a 16-year-old, ‘Leon Smith’, to make contact with ten boys aged between 12 and 17 on social media.

Jane Waugh, prosecuting, said it was only on the day of his scheduled trial, in December, that now 35-year-old Sowerby, of Teesdale Walk, Shildon, changed pleas.

He admitted four counts of sexual activity with a child, one of causing a child to engage in sexual activity, and five relating to indecent images of boys, including the victim of the sexual activity.

Dan Cordey, for Sowerby, said he suffers depression and anxiety, and found it difficult to “face up to reality”, and admit his guilt.

But he said the defendant, who has no previous convictions, wanted to express through him how sorry he is, and how he feels “very ashamed” of his actions.

Imposing an eight-and-a-half year prison sentence, he told Sowerby: “My assessment is that you are an individual with a clear deviant sexual interest in young male children.”

He made him subject of a lifetime restraining order forbidding contact with the boy.

Sowerby will be subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and notification requirements as a sex offender, both also for life.

Detective Constable Jonathan Stoker, of Durham Police’s Digital Intelligence and Investigation Team, said: “This has been a difficult investigation where Sowerby has continuously tried to put obstacles in our way by denying the offences he committed.

“The strength of the evidence really came to light when I began working alongside my colleagues within the Digital Intelligence and Investigations team, Special Crime Operations, Criminal Justice Unit and the Crown Prosecution Service, who together helped build a solid case which ultimately put Sowerby behind bars.”

He also thanked the victim who he said has shown, “immense strength” during the prolonged investigation.

“Because of their courage, they have put a stop to Sowerby committing further offences and inspire other victims to come forward and speak up against their abusers.”

He said anyone subject to sexual abuse should call police on 101, or if they are in immediate danger they should always ring 999.

For those victims unwilling to speak directly to police, they can confidentially contact the Meadows Sexual Assault Referral Centre, via www.themeadowsdurham.org.uk, or by ringing (03333) 448283.

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