March 2021

Northallerton man jailed over online child sex offences

A Northallerton man has been jailed for more than two years following grooming and sending sexually explicit messages to a child.

Michael Joshua Ward first appeared before magistrates in York charged with three online child sex offences.

The offences were attempting to cause or incite sexual activity with a child and attempting to cause a child to watch a sex act on December 1, 2020.

Ward, of The Willows, was also charged with attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child on August 30, 2020.

He admitted the offences during a hearing at Teesside Crown Court on February 1 and was today (Wednesday) jailed for two years and three months.