A man who groomed two schoolgirls on Snapchat before raping them at a Teesside industrial estate has been jailed for 18 years. Paul Black, 36, admitted 28 offences at Teesside Crown Court.
Black, who was not known to his underage victims before the offending, added one of the children on Snapchat and offered her money for sexual acts. He groomed both youngsters on numerous occasions, picking them up in his car and driving them to an industrial estate where he raped them.
Offering money for sex
The court heard how Black offered one of the girls £200 for sex or £60 for a sex act. He also requested and paid for pictures of a sexual nature from his victims. When one of the girls asked him to stop, he was "annoyed saying he was paying her for it so she had to do it".
The offending came to light when one of the victims informed an adult who alerted police. During the investigation, analysis of Black's devices revealed indecent images of children - 35 of category A, 16 of category B and more than 60 of category C.
Victim impact
Reading victim impact statements, prosecutor Shaun Dodds said one of the girls "struggled a lot in day to day life", adding: "I struggle to sleep and feel paranoid. I feel this man targeted me."
The other girl wrote: "I thought it was my fault and I was to blame. I understand now I wasn't... I hope because this has concluded I will be able to carry on with my life and feel normal again."
Aggravating features and sentence
The court heard aggravating features including that Black lied about his age, claiming to be in his 20s, and used a fake name. He had received three cautions previously, including indecent exposure in 2004 and a sexual assault.
Black, of Wordsworth Crescent, Gateshead, admitted eight counts of rape alongside 20 other sexual offences. Judge Richard Clews labelled him a dangerous offender and handed him an 18-year sentence, comprising 15 years in custody and three years on extended licence. He told Black: "You took advantage of them in a dreadful way and did so repeatedly."
Black will be on the Sex Offenders' Register for life and made subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Restraining orders were also made to prevent him contacting the victims.
Detective Constable Sean Hobbs, from Cleveland Police's Protecting Vulnerable People team, said: "Black is a predator who has used Snapchat to groom young girls solely for his own sexual gratification. He would entice the children to meet him by promising to give them large amounts of money."
He added: "It has understandably been distressing for the girls to relive what Black had done to them, but they have shown such courage in opening up to an adult and then to officers. This has gone a long way to ensure Black has no choice but to admit to what he has done and secured a prison sentence."
