A man who committed sex offences against two 15 year old girls was today (Fri) jailed for five years after a judge described him as posing a risk to young girls.
Neil Amess sent sexually explicit messages to the girls and met up with them. He went on to give them alcohol after taking back to his flat in Spalding and subsequently had sex with one of them.
Lincoln Crown Court was told that Amess initially met the girls through a woman he exchanged messages with.
That woman then moved away from the area but Amess continued to contact the 15 year old girls before taking them for drives in his car and then going back to his flat.
He sent sexually explicit messages to the girls , at one point suggesting they have a threesome, and went on to have unprotected sex with one of the girls.
Kath Goddard, prosecuting, “Both girls were 15 and the defendant was 33 at the time. They met the defendant through another female.
“Having met the defendant the girls were then contacted by him and there followed a period when messages were exchanged of an increasingly sexual nature.
“He spoke of the possibility of a threesome between him and the two girls.
“It is clear from the messages that the defendant was aware from the outset that the girls were only 15.
“Not only was he engaging in messaging the girls he would also meet them.
“He would take them for a drive and take them to his flat in Spalding. He would give them alcohol and they would get drunk.
“As the weeks went on the defendant became increasingly bold with his sexual advances culminating in him having sex with one of the girls.”
Amess was arrested after one of the girls approached a teacher at her school and told what was happening.
When Amess was interviewed he admitted knowing the girls but denied any sexual contact with them. Later he was confronted with explicit messages he had exchanged and went on to make admissions.
Neil Amess, 34, of Gaunt Close, Spalding, pleaded guilty to charges involving one of the girls of sexual activity with a child, meeting a child following sexual grooming and sexual communication with a child.
He also admitted a charge of sexual communication with the second 15 year old girl.
All four offences occurred during August 2017.
As well as being jailed he was given an extended licence which means he will be at risk of being returned to prison for five further years after his initial sentence expires. He was placed on the sex offenders’ register for life and given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.
Recorder Gareth Evans QC, passing sentence, told him “I take the view that you are attracted to very young girls. You are a controlling and corrupting influence on young girls.
“These two girls were set up by you. They were plied with alcohol They were there for one purpose only and that was sex.
“I have no doubt that you pose a risk to young girls.”
Caroline Allison, in mitigation, said Amess takes full responsibility for his actions.
She told the court “He has candidly said to me that whilst he deserves to be punished for what he has done neither of these young ladies deserved any of this.
“He accepts that his behaviour was thoughtless, selfish and inconsiderate. He is truly sorry.”
Miss Allison said Amess had been suffering from low self-esteem, depression and isolation and resorted to alcohol.
She added “He is now in a relationship with someone of his own age.”
