Long-distance sex grooming:

Sri Lankan teen held in New Zealand

This case highlights dangers for young people using social networking sites - Judge:

A 19-year-old in Sri Lanka made contact and started sexually grooming two girls over a social networking site before he set out for New Zealand.

The youth was sentenced to three months' home detention at his Christchurch District Court sentencing on charges of meeting the girls after sexual grooming.

The teenager arrived in Christchurch from Sri Lanka soon after the February 22 earthquake and started texting the two girls who were both 14. Defence counsel Trudi Aitkin said the teen had contacted the girls because he wanted friends when he came to Christchurch.

She said when the youth picked the two girls up and took them to his flat some alcohol was available and the two girls chose to consume it.

Judge Raoul Neave said this case highlighted the dangers for young people using social networking sites.

The youth knew both girls were 14, and began a friendship with one of them which led to contact with the other.

He sent both girls explicit sexual text messages, and repeatedly asked them for sex, Judge Neave said.

He arranged to meet them at Northlands Mall, and drove them to his flat where he gave them cigarettes and alcohol.

He kissed and hugged the girls after they were intoxicated to the point of being ill. One of the girls rang her mother, who said she was going to contact the police.

Courtesy: Courtnews.co.nz