A SEX offender who “wormed” his way into families of underage girls as he repeatedly flouted a court order has been jailed for three years.

Martin Kidd, 24, targeted three girls aged 14 and 15 through social media and tried to persuade one to have sex with him.

Prosecutor Matthew Collins said Kidd was banned under a restraining order from contacting any child under 16 because, in 2012, he was convicted of trying to lure two 11-year-old York boys into his car near their school and in 2011 was cautioned for inciting a 13-year-old girl into sexual activity.

The Recorder of York, Judge Stephen Ashurst, said: “I regard this case as being worrying from a number of points of view.

“The evidence I have read shows all the classic signs of grooming.”

He told Kidd at York Crown Court: “What you did was to worm your way into several families.”

Kidd had concealed his past from the girls’ relatives and struck up friendships with their daughters as he targeted underage girls sexually.

“There was deliberate defiance of a court order to further sexual interest in children,” the judge said.

He said a probation service assessment of Kidd as being a “high risk” as being “absolutely spot on”.

Kidd, of Rose Tree Grove, New Earswick, pleaded guilty to breaching a restraining order three times and one of inciting an underage girl to sexual activity and was jailed for three years.

He must also register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

The restraining order remains in place until 2017, and the judge said public protection officers could apply for a sexual harm prevention order to be made against Kidd to restrict his behaviour.

For Kidd, Victoria Smith-Swain handed in a letter from him and said he was remorseful for what he had done.

He now realised he had a sexual interest in girls under 16 and had made inquiries about possibly doing a sex offender treatment programme while in jail.

His crimes were prompted by his social isolation that led to him spending a lot of time on social media.

The court heard the three girls are from the Doncaster area.


Police warning over internet predators

NORTH Yorkshire Police are urging parents and underage girls to be alert to sex offenders targeting them through social media.

Detective Inspector Shaun Page said: “I am pleased that Martin Kidd has been given a custodial sentence and he will be unable to contact underage girls, which despite a restraining order prohibiting contact with under-16s he has continued to do.

“I am grateful to the victims for raising their concerns about Kidd to their parents and our colleagues at South Yorkshire Police who gathered evidence which helped secure his conviction.

“The victims did exactly the right thing in informing their parents and highlights that everyone needs to be aware of the signs of child sexual exploitation.

“Kidd targeted his victims online, which is one of the main platforms where offenders target young people. I would urge all parents to be alive to the dangers of sexual grooming online and be aware of who your children are talking to and how much time they are spending on the internet.

"We are working with our partner agencies to raise awareness of child sexual exploitation and educate adults and young people about what they can do to prevent it.”