A MAN who exchanged sexual messages with a teenage girl and encouraged her to send him naked photographs has been jailed.
Alexander Harrison appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday, August 5, where he was sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to sexual communication with a child and inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity.
The offences came to light in early 2023 when the victim's mother discovered inappropriate messages between her daughter and Harrison.
Holly Menary, prosecuting, told the court that communication between them had began in April 2021.
Harrison was aware of the girl’s age and repeatedly sent her messages of a sexual nature.
Ms Menary said the teenager "sent images of herself naked to the defendant at his request."
On one occasion, Harrison sent the girl an explicit picture of himself.
The girl’s phone, which she handed to police, contained a number of the images she had taken and sent to the defendant.
When Harrison was arrested, officers seized his phone and other digital devices.
He had deleted incriminating material but had made searches asking, "Does being a sex offender ruin your life?" and "What do you have to do when you become a sex offender?" and "How will my life be affected when I’m on the Sex Offenders’ Register?"
Ms Menary read a victim personal statement in which the girl described the ongoing impact of Harrison’s actions.
She said: "I’m constantly living in fear when I go out, I worry if I recognise his car.
"I don’t trust people whatsoever.
"I changed how I use social media in my daily life."
The girl explained that she has had to take prescribed medication and has suffered panic attacks since the offences.
She also said: "It has been so hard going through the investigation for so long."
Jason Smith, defending, said Harrison had shown genuine remorse and "considerable shame and regret."
He said: "There are factors which I hope allow him to move on from this.
"Whatever the outcome of the proceedings he’ll have to do that.
"He is doing that with the remorse and understanding of what he has put the victim through."
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Mr Smith said that Harrison was considered capable of rehabilitation and highlighted the length of time the case had taken to reach court.
He said: "Would society be better off with him assisted by the relevant agency? How much good would it do him for his future rehabilitation, how would that help society generally?"
"He is a man who has committed dreadful offences but a man who is aware of that.
"He understands and has empathy for the victim.
"He wants to embrace whatever assistance he can be provided with."
However, Judge Ian Unsworth KC said immediate custody was the only appropriate punishment.
Judge Unsworth said to 30-year-old defendant: “You were robbing her (he victim) of her childhood, the effects upon her have been profound.
“She wants you to know how much this has affected her. It has affected every aspect of her life, she has lost her confidence with people.”
He said the girl had suffered "severe psychological, harm," describing this as "a significant aggravating factor."
The judge acknowledged Harrison’s lack of previous convictions and his expression of remorse.
He said: "You are someone who is still a relatively young man, although you were younger at the time.
"It is clear that you are capable of other positive things in life."
But the judge said the "persistent communication over a period of years" and "attempts to dispose of evidence" made the offences more serious.
He told Harrison: “It cannot be said your mitigation is particularly strong.
"It may be said there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation, it may also be said you do not present a high risk of reoffending.
“I am not satisfied immediate custody will have a significant impact on others.
“Bearing in mind the sustained nature of your offending, the period over which it persisted, I am satisfied the seriousness of this case is such that the appropriate punishment can only be achieved by immediate custody.”
Harrison, of Elizabeth Road, Haydock, was given a two-and-a-half-year sentence, which reflected a one-third reduction for his guilty pleas at the first opportunity in the lower court.
He was also made subject to a restraining order preventing contact with the victim.
He was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life and handed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
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