A paedophile groomed a 13-year-old for sex and plied her with booze and bought her Primark underwear after taking pictures up schoolgirls’ skirts on buses.

Erickson Pascual took the young girl to a Gordon Ramsay restaurant in Liverpool.

He intended to take her to the Radisson Blu Hotel, where he had hoped to sexually abuse her, Liverpool Crown Court heard.

A police investigation revealed that he had also been filming schoolgirls in their uniforms as they travelled to and from school.

Paul Becker, prosecuting, described how Pascual initially claimed that he was aged 21, while she told him that she was 19, reports the Liverpool Echo.

READ MORE Lucy Letby’s sinister four-word note to mum of baby left brain damaged

The 32-year-old met had his victim “on a night out” in the city centre, the court heard.

The girl told him her true age in a Snapchat message the next day, but the pervert went out to meet her again on several occasions regardless.

He encouraged her to “sneak out” of home to do so.

On one occasion, Pascual bought her a bottle of rose wine from a Sainsbury’s store, which they drank together in St John’s Gardens. He then paid for her to take a taxi home. 

And in another meet-up, they played darts together at Boom Battle Bar – but staff refused to serve the schoolgirl a pornstar martini.

The defendant bought her £50 of clothing from Primark, including a padded lace bra, and took her for a meal and drinks at Gordon Ramsay’s Bread Street Kitchen and Bar.

After this, she sent him a picture of herself in her underwear at his request, to which Pascual replied “she would look better without” the garments on.

But before he could book a room at the Radisson Blu, the girl’s father heard that she had been seen in town with an older man, and Pascual was arrested.

Police officers discovered 15 pictures and 16 videos he had taken of girls riding buses in their school uniform, filming up their skirts.

The children photographed have not been identified.

His victim bravely read a statement to the court in which she outlined the impact of his crimes upon her, saying: “He portrayed himself as a friend, which made me feel special and like he had my back. Now I realise that it was fake.

“I feel betrayed. I hope that going to prison makes you realise your wrongdoing. You could have been a nice person with a good job. I hope you change.”

Don’t miss…
Dad told ex he was ‘Satan’ then battered her until takeaway pizza arrived[REVEAL]
Daughter accused of murdering parents, fears bodies were mummified[INSIGHT]
‘Murdered’ Sara Sharif suffered string of ‘violent’ injuries, court told[ANALYSIS]

Jamie Baxter, defending, told the court: “There is work that can be done, critical work which will in due course – as time passes – lessen the risk to members of the public, in particular young women and girls. There is a degree of remorse.”

Pascual admitted to meeting a child after grooming, operating equipment beneath clothing without consent, possession of indecent images and making indecent images. 

He appeared via videolink to court, hearing his sentence of four years and four months in prison.

He was also handed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and told to sign the sex offenders’ register for life.

Sentencing, Judge David Swinnerton said: “You treated her as if she was a girlfriend. You groomed her.

“You bought her underwear. You bought her alcohol every time you met her.”

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

The judge said that the materials discovered on his phone “showed that this was no accident”, adding: “You are a paedophile. You have a sexual interest in children.

“It is obvious from the fact that you took these pictures of girls on the school bus. You took and kept those photographs for your sexual gratification. They were blissfully unaware of what you were doing. They were simply catching the school bus.”

Detective Inspector Alan Nuttall said following the sentence: “I hope this sentencing encourages other victims to come forward and report sex offences to us and they have confidence in us as a police force to take reports seriously, where we will ensure offenders are put before the courts so that they can pay for their crimes.

“Anyone who has been a victim of a sexual offence, is concerned for the safety of someone they know or suspects someone to be engaging in this criminal activity should come forward and speak to us.

“We have a team of dedicated staff who will expertly and compassionately deal with your reports and we will do everything we can to bring offenders to justice. Time is no barrier to reporting offences, and I would urge anyone who has been victim of a sexual offence at any time to come forward and we will do everything we can to help and support them.”

Source: Read Full Article