GREGORY PIKE – LINCOLN

2016 – Lincoln teenager sentenced over child sexual offences and indecent images

A Lincoln teenager was given a three-year community order after admitting a series of child sexual offences involving three underage girls.

Gregory Pike was 17 when the offending took place and was 18 when the case was reported in 2016.

The court heard Pike used Facebook and Snapchat to contact girls online. He initially exchanged ordinary messages with a 14-year-old before the conversation became sexual and he encouraged her to send indecent photographs.

Pike also sent an explicit image of himself and asked the girl for further photographs. Her mother later became concerned about the messages and contacted police.

The subsequent investigation found that Pike had communicated with two other underage girls, requested indecent images and discussed meeting them for sexual purposes.

He pleaded guilty to eight offences, including engaging in sexual activity with a child and distributing indecent images.

The court heard Pike had no previous convictions. His age, immaturity, dyslexia, experiences of bullying and other personal difficulties were taken into account during sentencing.

Judge John Pini QC said rehabilitation was an important consideration and imposed a three-year community order. Pike had already spent around 14 months in custody by the time he was sentenced.

He was also made subject to the sex offenders’ register for 30 months.