February 2014 ‘Manipulative’ youth instructor ‘corrupted’ and had sex with 13-year-old girl A YOUTH organisation instructor who “corrupted” and had sex with a 13-year-old girl was caught out by her suspicious mother – who texted him from her daughter’s phone, pretending to be her. He behaved in a “calculated and manipulative way” and exchanged more than 2,000 text messages with the girl, a court heard. Mark Pitts, 20, of Ladysmith Road, Grimsby, admitted three offences of sexual activity with a girl and another of causing or inciting her to engage in sexual activity, between November 2012 and January last year. Eleanor Fry, prosecuting, told Grimsby Crown Court that Pitts was an instructor at the time for a local youth organisation and the girl was a member of it. He met her mother through his work there and they struck up a friendship. She “took him under her wing” and treated him like her son. He got to know her children and she occasionally attended activities of the youth organisation, which is not being named for legal reasons. Pitts went with the family on a holiday to France. He later told the girl how pretty she was and how he felt about her, and they regularly kissed. He twice had sex with her and also touched her intimately and engaged in other sexual behaviour. Her mother became suspicious about what was going on and confiscated the girl’s mobile phone. She found that her daughter had sent more than 2,000 text messages to Pitts and that she had spoken on the telephone to him between 11pm and midnight. The mother sent a text message to Pitts, pretending to be her daughter, mentioning the fact that the girl had been having sex with him and asking him what she should say to her mother. Pitts replied: “You don’t tell her anything, especially not that.” Miss Fry said that Pitts had been reprimanded by the youth organisation in December 2012 for having some of those involved in the organisation stay at his home. All the children involved in that matter had the permission of their parents to stay there that night, added Miss Fry. Richard Butters, mitigating, said Pitts made no excuses for his behaviour. “The defendant, through his own actions, has shattered two families,” said Mr Butters. “He is deeply ashamed about what he has done to this girl and his remorse is entirely genuine. “His life has also now been shattered. It’s his own fault.” Pitts had no previous convictions, had numerous GCSEs and had been doing a foundation degree in hospital and health care at college in Grimsby. “His life, through his own fault, is in tatters,” said Mr Butters. Judge David Tremberg told Pitts: “You were more than old enough to know you should not have laid a finger on the complainant, but you did so. “You corrupted her into accepting this unlawful relationship as being part of her life. “You caused or risked serious emotional harm as you acted as a corrupting influence on the complainant, creating a secret life for her, between herself and her mother. “You used emotional blackmail, saying you would kill yourself if it all came out. “This was a repeated breach of trust by you over a significant period of time. You behaved in a calculated and manipulative way, creating opportunities to offend.” Pitts was jailed for three years and nine months. He was given an indefinite sexual offences prevention order and must register as a sex offender for life. The girl’s mother was in court for the case with other supporters but, afterwards, she said she was not allowed to comment.