Yorkshire man who sent sexually explicit images to underage girl on Snapchat and Instagram sentenced

Rowan Brewster, 19, sent the victim both still and moving images of his private parts via Snapchat and Instagram while he was aged 18, York Crown Court was told.

The victim was left traumatised and confided in a friend who reported it to North Yorkshire Police.

During his police interview, Brewster fully admitted the offence and claimed that he “fancied” the underage girl and “regretted” his behaviour.

However, a subsequent examination of his phone identified numerous indecent images, one of which was classified as a Category B illegal image of a child being sexually abused by an unknown man.

Brewster received an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, at York Crown Court on Wednesday May 15.

He had previously pleaded guilty to sexual communication with the girl, causing her to watch or look at images of sexual activity, and making indecent photos or pseudo photos of children.

The offences happened in October 2022 when Brewster, of Dundas Gardens, Whitby, was aged 18.

Police Staff Investigator Paul Thompson, from Scarborough and Ryedale CID, said: “The young victim in this case has suffered greatly and I hope she can now begin to rebuild her life.

“This case highlights the very real dangers associated with online child abuse and the normalisation of sharing sexually explicit images online which can lead to prosecutions.

“As for Brewster, he is now subject to a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order with tight prohibitions.

"If he steps out of line it is likely his liberty will be taken away from him.”