Rochester man Craig Woodman jailed for child sex crimes
A "predatory sex offender" who used social media to a target his 13-year-old victim has been jailed for five years.
Craig Woodman, 32, formerly of Wylie Road, Rochester, Kent, admitted five offences at Maidstone Crown Court.
Woodman made contact with the girl on the internet using a different name. He was traced using a mobile number he had provided to her.
Kent Police praised the courage of his victim who reported the abuse.
Woodman was arrested in June, and after examining forensic evidence and text message exchanges, he was charged with four counts of sexual activity with a child and one count of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
Det Con Nicola Griffith, from the child exploitation investigation team at Kent Police, said: "Craig Woodman is a predatory sex offender who targeted online, met and sexually assaulted a vulnerable child.
"I would like to recognise the courage of the victim who came forward to report the abuse and assure others, who have suffered similar acts, that the police will take your concerns seriously and investigate thoroughly those who are suspected to be engaged in sexual exploitation."
The judge said Woodman would be placed be on the sex offenders register indefinitely and be disqualified from working with children.