A church volunteer messaged a 15-year-old girl about slapping her backside and made comments about her breasts growing. A court has heard how Raymond Bown, 66, contacted the girl over social media.
Mark Achurch, prosecuting, said the offence took place in September 2021. He said Bown made contact with the teenager and made comments about the size of her breasts as well as a reference to slapping her backside.
The prosecutor said the police were informed and an investigation began. Bown, of East Avenue, Mickleover, pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual communication with a child, reports DerbyshireLive.
Sentencing him at Derby Crown Court, Judge Jonathan Bennett said: “She was a 15-year-old girl and your contact was very unwise. For a man of your age you should have known far, far, better. Particularly for someone who does volunteer work at the church and for your involvement with a football team. What you did was quite lewd and quite disgraceful.
"This is a relatively new offence and there are guidelines for it going from a community order to one year’s custody, but your hitherto previous good character allows me to step outside the guidelines, so it will be a financial penalty. As a result of the offence you will be subjected to notification requirements (to sign on the sex offenders' register) for five years. You live in Derby don’t you?”
Bown, who was supported by three people in the public gallery, replied: “I do, yes.” The judge said: “Then you will need to go to St Mary’s Wharf police station and let them know your date of birth, address and National Insurance number.
"The offence may well bar you from working with children, but that will be down to the DBS where you will have the opportunity to make representations. You will also be the subject of a restraining order not to contact the victim directly or indirectly, which includes social media, which is the means you used to contact this young woman.”
Judge Bennett fined him £500, ordered him to pay £1,500 prosecution costs and a £50 victim surcharge. He offered to pay the full amount in four months through his barrister, Catherine Picardo. If he does not pay the £500 fine within that time he could be sent to prison for 28 days.
