COLCHESTER DAD WHO SENT SEXUAL MESSAGES TO 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL RECEIVES SUSPENDED SENTENCE
A MAN has appeared in court charged with six child sex offences.Ryan Damant, 38, is accused of attempting to meet a girl under the age of 16 after grooming, attempting to cause a girl to engage in sexual activity, and attempting to engage in sexual activity with a child.
He faces further charges of attempting to cause a girl to look at an image of sexual activity and possession of indecent images.
Damant, of Barrack Street, Colchester, denies all the charges against him.
Colchester Magistrates’ Court heard on Tuesday Damant had been messaging a decoy account using the Kik messenger app between September 2024 and April this year before he was confronted.
He attended court along with his mother who sat in the public gallery.
Bench chair Paul Ingham said the allegations were too serious to be heard before magistrates and told Ingham the case will be transferred to Ipswich Crown Court.
He said: “We are going to send this to the crown court.
“You are required to attend Ipswich Crown Court on October 28 of this year.
“This will be a plea and trial preparation hearing.
“In the meantime, you are to be on continued conditional bail.” ——————————————————————— Update 1st December 2025: A FATHER was snared by a child activist group after he spent months exchanging sexual messages with who he thought was a 14-year-old girl, later inviting her to his house.
Dad-of-one Ryan Damant, 38, first messaged the Facebook account in September last year and sent a slew of explicit pictures, messages, and advice on how to perform sex acts.
He denied any involvement when he was confronted by a child activist group, then denied the offences when he appeared before Colchester Magistrates’ Court.
But he eventually admitted all the charges against him and was given a suspended jail term by judge, who said he had to consider the effects a jail term would have on Damant’s son.
Prosecutor Mark Halsey told Ipswich Crown Court how Damant was told soon after he messaged the account that he was talking to a 14-year-old girl, but continued the conversations anyway.
In March this year, Damant offered to pick up the girl and suggested they “could try kissing first”.
Damant continued sending sexual messages and pictures and thought he was going to finally meet the girl when he was confronted by the child activist group.
He was arrested and charged with attempting to meet a girl under the age of 16 following grooming, attempting to incite a girl between 13 and 15 to engage in sexual activity, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, and attempting to cause a child between 13 and 15 to watch an image of sexual activity.
Damant, of Barrack Street, Colchester denied all the charges before changing his pleas to guilty at Ipswich Crown Court.
Richard Potts, mitigating, said Damant had no previous convictions aside from a criminal damage offence for which he received a conditional discharge in 2011.
He continued: “He has done a web design course which finishes next Wednesday – he hopes to receive a qualification from that.” Mr Potts added Damant has worked to address alcohol and substance misuse and has a close relationship with his young son who he has not seen since he was charged.
Sentencing Damant, Judge David Wilson said: “Looking at the context of the pre-sentence report, despite what is said to be a potential high risk of reoffending, there is a realist prospect of rehabilitation in the community.
There is little doubt that immediate custody would have a significant harmful impact on your son in this case.” Damant was sentenced to a two-year jail term, suspended for two years, and ordered to carry out six accredited programme sessions as well as ten rehabilitation requirement days.
He must comply with trail monitoring requirements for six months, was made a registered sex offender for ten years, and barred from having any interaction with any female child under 18.
Damant was not eligible for unpaid work due to several physical conditions.
Two charges of keeping indecent images of children were ordered to lie on the file.
