Man jailed for sex offences against girl, 14

Ball was sentenced at Wolverhampton Crown Court

A man has been jailed after admitting a range of sexual offences against a 14-year-old girl.

Karl Ball inappropriately touched his victim and sexually assaulted her, having made contact using social media in which he outlined fantasies and shared explicit images.

He pleaded guilty to six offences in all, including two counts of engaging in sexual communication with a child, two counts of sexual assault on a female, and two counts of causing or inciting a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity.

The 35-year-old, from Birmingham, was sentenced at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Wednesday to a total of two years and eight months in prison.

Ball, who runs a YouTube channel about magnet fishing, used another social media platform to groom the child.

He sent messages containing sexualised language and others referring to sexual intercourse and what he would do to the child.

He also sent sexually explicit photos and tried to encourage the victim to send naked photos of herself, a request which she refused.

When the pair met face to face he assaulted her.

'Simply repulsive'

His crimes came to light when the victim's parents reported him to the police after finding messages on her phone.

He appeared before Dudley Magistrates' Court on 2 May last year and pleaded guilty to all offences.

Cagin Husnu of the Crown Prosecution Service said "the crimes committed by Karl Ball in this case are abhorrent", adding that one act in which he manipulated her was "simply repulsive".

"No one in our society, let alone children, should be treated in such a degrading manner and it is our aim to ensure that we work collaboratively with the police to ensure that offenders are held accountable for their crimes."

Ball has also been placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years and made subject to a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) for the same term.

A 10-year restraining order is additionally in place barring him from contacting the child and her family.

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