A BOURNEMOUTH man who groomed a 14-year-old girl into having sexual activity made her feel "vulnerable and afraid".

Matthew Joseph Keets, aged 23 and of Bennett Road, Bournemouth, began messaging the schoolgirl over social media platform Snapchat in the summer of 2019.

As reported, Keets admitted two counts of sexual activity with a child, two counts of sexual communication with a child, one count of possession of indecent moving image and four counts of possession of an indecent image.

This came after months of offending, which included Keets and the victim engaging in consensual sexual activity at the defendant’s home in October last year.

The girl was reported missing in November last year and was found by family members at Keets’s address. He was arrested and admitted to engaging in sexual activity with the victim but claimed he did not know she was underage.

He was released on bail with conditions not to contact the victim but, following reports Keets was breaching those conditions, officers attended his address in February and found him in company with the victim.

Keets was arrested again and an examination of his mobile phone revealed a number of messages illustrating the defendant’s grooming behaviour toward the victim as well as indecent images of her.

Prosecutor Tom Wright told Bournemouth Crown Court on Thursday, October 29, that some of the messages between Keets and the girl presented a subtext of "fantasies of domination" on the defendant's part.

Keets's most recent sexual activity with the child was after he had been arrested on three occasions for his interaction with the girl and released under investigation by police.

A victim impact statement read by Mr Wright said Keets initially told the girl he was 17 when they were exchanging messages. He was in fact 22 at the time.

When they met in person he revealed his real age before the sexual activity began, the court heard.

"I was vulnerable and he took advantage of it," the statement said.

It added: "I feel like he has taken away part of my teenage years when I should have been having fun with my own friends."

The girl said she felt pressured by Keets to comply with his sexual demands and this left her feeling "vulnerable and afraid".

The defendant would give the victim free cannabis and food.

Mitigating Kevin Kill said Keets, who has Asperger syndrome, had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity to the string of offences.

"He is a relatively young man with some very complex issues and he needs help with it," said Mr Hill.

Judge Stephen Climie told Keets that he should be under no illusions over the fact that his actions had a "very serious affect" on the victim.

"She will struggle with it (Keet's offences) and that is your fault and your responsibility", the judge added.

The defendant was warned that if he commits any offences of a similar nature involving children in the future, it is likely the courts will find him to be dangerous.

Keets was issued with a sexual harm prevention order and a restraining order, which both last for 10 years.

For more information and support services

Child Online Safety Advice: dorset.police.uk/help-advice-crime-prevention/crime-prevention-help-advice/cyber-crime/child-online-safety

NSPCC: 0808 800 5000, help@nspcc.org.uk, nspcc.org.uk/childsexualexploitation

Barnardo's children's charity: barnardos.org.uk