GLEN RICE FROM WINLATON, GATESHEAD, SENTENCED FOR PAEDOPHILIC ONLINE CHAT IN SOUTH TYNESIDE
In March 2019, Glen Rice, a 26-year-old from Denton View in Winlaton, Gateshead, was exposed as a paedophile after sending inappropriate messages to a schoolgirl via Facebook.The court heard that the conversation began with a simple Facebook 'wave', but quickly turned sexual.
Prosecutor Iain Jordan explained, "Rice and the girl started chatting following a Facebook ‘wave’, but the topic of the messages exchanged turned sexual." Rice then made a bold, inappropriate comment about joining the girl in the bath, saying, "I'll dive in wi ya." He also admitted to feeling a need for action, stating, "A need some action me like." When the girl rejected his advances, Rice apologized, saying, "Ee sorry." Undeterred, he asked explicitly, "Fancy a f***," to which she responded negatively.
His reply was, "Nee good." The court noted that Rice, who works as a cook, claimed that he would not have done anything further.
However, magistrates, who are limited to a maximum jail sentence of six months, concluded that a more severe punishment was necessary.
They ruled that Rice must be sentenced by a judge.
During the hearing, mitigating factor Paul Hanratty described Rice as 'incredibly foolish' and 'got carried away,' noting that Rice, who had been drinking, is very sorry for his actions.
The court heard that Rice's relationship with his partner has since ended and that the girl involved now requires counselling.
In a victim statement, the girl expressed her fear, saying, "I'm scared of him.
What if he had done something to me?" The court acknowledged Rice's previous guilty plea to engaging in sexual communication with a child at a hearing on January 15.
Rice was granted unconditional bail and is scheduled to appear at Newcastle Crown Court on March 21 for sentencing.
