Ripon man guilty of using Snapchat to engage a teenage girl in sexual communications

David Wesling, 48, from Littlethorpe Lane, Littlethorpe (near Ripon) has been found guilty of attempting to engage a 13-year-old girl in sexualised communications for which he has been jailed for 32 months.

His behaviour was identified after Wesling engaged with a child profile on Snapchat.

The defendant has pleaded guilty to the following offences, which occurred between 27 April 2023 and 16 May 2023.

• Attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child

• Facilitating the offence of sexual activity in the presence of a child, causing them to watch a sexual act

• Breaching a sexual harm prevention order

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Kerri Jones, of North Yorkshire Police’s  Online Child Abuse Team, said:

“This case sends a message out to adults attempting to engage in online sexual activity with children, that this behaviour will not go unnoticed.

“This is not the first time that Wesling has attempted to have sexual communications with a child. He is already a convicted ‘Registered Sex Offender’, after being found guilty of similar offences in 2019 when he was jailed for 12 months and issued with a ‘Sexual Harm Prevention Order’.

“Wesling has shown blatant disregard for the law and his conditions by committing similar offences again. Despite his attempts to deny these offences when interviewed by police, the overwhelming evidence against him has resulted in him being remanded and pleading guilty at Court.”

To report or seek help at about online sexual abuse:

• Please contact North Yorkshire Police on 101. If you are in immediate danger, always dial 999 for an emergency response
• Crimestoppers – 0800 55511 – crimestoppers-uk.org– anonymous reporting
• Child Exploitation Online Protection command (CEOP)- http://ceop.police.uk/
• Internet Watch Foundation- https://www.iwf.org.uk/
• Marie Collins Foundation - uk– support for children and young people who have been abused via the internet and mobile technologies
• Stop it Now!– org.uk– Helpline 0808 1000 900 – confidential help and support for people who concerned about their or someone else’s thoughts and behaviour towards children
• Victims who would prefer not to go direct to the police and are not in immediate danger, can contact Bridge House, North Yorkshire’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre(SARC), on 0330 223 0362, email [email protected]or go to bridgehousesarc.org/
• You can also contact the Supporting Victims in North Yorkshire at org or call 01609 643100
• NSPCC Helplines: Anyone concerned about a child can contact the NSPCC Helplinefor advice on 0808 8005000; Adult victims of non-recent sexual abuse can also get in touch for support; Childline is available for young people on 0800 1111