A paedophile raped a child after exchanging messages on Facebook and Snapchat, a court heard.
Ryan Bird, 24, from Redcar, pleaded guilty to rape and engaging in sexual activity with a child and was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison with one year additional on licence.
The predator had been exchanging messages with the child on Facebook and Snapchat.
Teesside Crown Court heard how his offending came to light when last year police were called to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.
What followed were interviews with the child with specialist work from Cleveland Police’s digital forensics unit.
Detectives from Cleveland Police’s child abuse and vulnerable adults team arrested Bird on Tuesday, November 18, last year and he was taken to police custody.
After he was questioned, he was charged on Wednesday, November 19, and remanded in custody. He was sentenced on Tuesday, February 17.
Following the hearing, Detective Constable Elliot Shute, from Cleveland Police’s protecting vulnerable people unit, said: “Bird took advantage of a young child for his own sexual gratification without a thought for the physical and mental abuse that it would bring to her.
“I want to take this opportunity to praise the girl for her bravery in disclosing what had happened to her and that Bird was the offender as well as providing evidence throughout the investigation and court process.
“It goes without saying that what Bird did will have a huge impact on her and her family. I hope knowing he is now in prison will provide some comfort.”
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