GREAT YARMOUTH SEX OFFENDER JAILED FOR FACEBOOK CONTACT WITH GIRL
A convicted sex offender, who breached his court order by contacting a 12 year-old girl on Facebook, has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.Stephen Surplice, 53, was on the sex offenders' register and subject to an order preventing him from contacting young girls on the internet, when he started talking to the girl on Facebook, Norwich Crown Court heard today.
Chris Youell, prosecuting, said: 'He made a number of attempts to speak to young ladies.
He was contacting a large number of females of various ages saying 'hello' to see if he could get a response.' Mr Youell said Surplice started talking to the 12-year-old, in breach of a sexual offences prevention order Surplice had been given for a previous offence, which also involved contacting a young girl on the internet.
Mr Youell said that the offence came to light after Norfolk police officers made a routine check on Surplice as he was a registered sex offender.
He said that the latest offence also put Surplice in breach of a suspended 24-month jail sentence.
He said Surplice of Palgrave Road, Great Yarmouth, admitted breaching his court order.
Jailing him, Judge Anthony Bate said: 'You simply defied the court order that had been made.' He said he saw no reason to give Surplice a second chance.
Danielle O'Donovan, for Surplice, said he was full of remorse.
'There was no grooming, no sexual conversation of any sort,' she said.
