April 2016 Pervert groomed vulnerable schoolgirl A pervert groomed a vulnerable schoolgirl by sending her pictures of wedding dresses and telling her he wanted to have a baby with her. Craig Mullen, 40, has been locked up for 18 months after targeting the 15-year-old on Facebook and by text message During the grooming campaign, Mullen sent the teenager images of eight wedding dresses and said he wanted to marry her He also told her he loved her, had been dreaming about her, and wanted a baby with her – and went on to touch her leg, hips and bottom. Newcastle Crown Court heard the schoolgirl already had problems and the offending by Mullen made things worse. Mullen, from Blyth Northumberland, was jailed by Judge Paul Sloan QC after pleading guilty to sexual assault and grooming. Judge Sloan told him: “Notwithstanding that you were aware of her difficulties and the fact she was only 15, you sexually assaulted her. “You also sent her numerous text messages which became more and more inappropriate, saying you wanted to be there for her, give her cuddles and that you loved her and wanted to make love and make a baby. “You also invited her to choose a wedding dress from eight images.” The judge added: “Her self harming behaviour escalated significantly once you started abusing her. “There was significant planning and grooming, you specifically targeted a vulnerable child and there was a significant disparity of age.” The court heard Mullen was in contact with the girl on Facebook and by text message. The victim, who was already having issues, disclosed last December that he was making her feel uncomfortable. Prosecutor Kevin Wardlaw said: “She said the defendant sent her texts and touched her back, hip and leg. “He had also sent some images of wedding dresses. “In text messages he said he wanted to give her cuddles, that she was pretty and he loved her and wanted to have a baby with her. “He said he was dreaming about her and sent her eight images of wedding dresses.” When Mullen was interviewed, he said he knew the girl was having a hard time and wanted to “keep her morale up”. Mr Wardlaw said: “He said he cared about her and loved her. “He admitted sending texts saying he wanted to marry her and asking her if she wanted to make love and make a baby. “He also admitted sending her eight wedding dress images and said he wanted to marry her. “He said he knew she wanted a baby and wanted to make a baby to make her feel better.” The court heard the offending has had a bad effect on the girl and her family. Mullen, of Inglewood Close, Blyth, pleaded guilty to grooming and two counts of sexual assault and was jailed for 18 months, must sign the sex offenders register and was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order and a restraining order.