March 2022 Benwell pervert kissed and sent inappropriate text messages to teenage girl A pervert kissed a teenage girl before sending her inappropriate text messages. Robert Joseph Lee kissed the young girl and even photographed them doing so on one occasion. The 42-year-old then sent her text messages where he was “looking forward to big kisses and cuddles”. Lee was finally caught after the girl’s mum became suspicious and then saw the messages he’d been sending and called the police. Lee, of Benwell, Newcastle, appeared at Durham Crown Court on Wednesday to be sentenced for two counts of sexual assault of a child and one count of sending a sexual communication with a child. Richard Herrmann, prosecuting, said the girl’s mum became concerned when she saw Lee had been sending text messages to her daughter. One text from Lee said: “OK, I’m looking forward to big kisses and cuddles.” Another message said: “I’m still in bed, I’ve got it all to myself, there is space to fill.” A further message showed Lee’s concern at being caught, saying: “I will have to text, I don’t want anyone to find out about us.” The girl’s mum then contacted the police, and Lee was arrested. During interview he told officers that the kiss “was not sexual” and “did not accept” his messages were sexual but agreed they were inappropriate. He added it was a “silly little thing between them”. Sentencing Lee, Judge James Adkin, the Recorder of Durham, said it was “abhorrent” and a “dreadful case”. He said Lee carried out the offences for his “own sexual gratification” and that his offending was “sinister” and “very worrying”. “You had been drinking and kissed her on the lips”, he said. “The next day, you kissed her again and photographed that kiss. “You intended to progress further and sent her text messages that were more suitable for an adult girlfriend, not a child with learning difficulties.” He added: “I’m perfectly satisfied that you knew what you were doing was wrong, seriously wrong.”
Lee was jailed for 19 months and made subject of a 10 year sexual harm prevention order and 10 year restraining order. He will be on the sex offender’s register for 10 years.