February 2023 Baby-faced paedophile who gave schoolgirl love bites in Hanley Convicted sex offender Joshua Checksfield breached a court order by kissing two schoolgirls. The 20-year-old was banned from contacting girls under 16s as part of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) imposed in 2020. But Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard he met a 15-year-old girl in Hanley and they kissed and gave each other love bites. He went on to meet up with a 14-year-old girl and lied about his age, saying he was 15 when he was 19, and he kissed her on her cheek. Now Checksfield has been jailed for two years Prosecutor Hunter Gray said Checksfield was made the subject of a SHPO after he was convicted of attempting to incite a female under 13 to engage in sexual activity. But he ignored the order to meet a 15-year-old girl in the city centre in August 2020 and they exchanged Snapchat details. Mr Gray said: “He was 18. She was 15. He would often see her wearing school uniform. They had a conversation on Snapchat and WhatsApp. “They kissed and gave each other love bites. But there was no other sexual activity between them. She said she had feelings for somebody else and ended the relationship after a month or so.” Checksfield was again made subject of the SHPO on December 23, 2020 banning him from contacting or being in the company of children under 16. But within a week of receiving the order he went to the girl’s house unexpectedly. Mr McConaghy said: “He said he had been in prison and the reason why. He asked her to change her WhatsApp picture so she did not look as young.” The second victim was aged 14 when Checksfield contacted her between August 29, 2021 and December 2, 2021. Mr McConaghy said: “She met him near the Harplands Hospital. He initiated the conversation with her, saying she was beautiful. “He asked for her Snapchat details and told her he was 15. He would hug her and kiss her on the cheek. He asked her to date him. On one occasion she challenged him about his age but he continued to say he was 15. He was in fact 19.” Checksfield, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to two charges of breaching a SHPO and two charges of sexual activity with a child. Judge Graeme Smith said: “On December 23, 2020 you were made subject to a SHPO. That prevented you having contact with or being in the company of any child under 16. Within the matter of a few days you breached that order by visiting a child. You knew her age. There was no sexual activity when that meeting happened. There had been some kissing and associated contact when she was under 16. “Eight months later you again breached the order. She had only recently turned 14 and you lied about your age, saying you were 15 when you were 19. “You are assessed as a very high risk of re-offending and a very high risk of causing serious harm to children. “The most serious matter is the second breach. She was younger, she did not know you and you lied about your age.” The judge made Checksfield the subject of a new SHPO which will run indefinitely. And he was placed on the sex offenders’ register for life.