Man 'repeatedly preyed' on girl over Snapchat

A "predator" who sent sexually explicit messages to a girl over Snapchat to try to persuade her to share intimate photos of herself, has been jailed

Jason Payne, 37, of Station Road, Calne, pleaded guilty to sexual communications with a child and witness intimidation on 8 July at Swindon Crown Court.

Christopher Wright, from Wiltshire Police's Volume Crime Team, said Payne not only "repeatedly preyed on the victim" but also tried to pressure her and her family into retracting their evidence.

On Thursday, Payne was sentenced at the same court to 19 months in prison.

Payne was arrested after being reported to police for sending sexually explicit messages to a child who was known to him on 15 April.

After being released on bail, police said Payne ignored his bail conditions and repeatedly contacted the girl's family, telling them he would harm himself unless they dropped their support for the investigation.

He also threatened to kill himself on the day the victim was due to provide evidence.

Wright commended the family for their "courage in continuing to support the investigation".

"Payne is a predator who repeatedly preyed on the victim, first by sending sexually explicit communications to her, and then by breaking his bail conditions on numerous occasions to attempt to pressure her and her family into retracting their evidence," he said.

"We take these offences incredibly seriously, and we will ensure that offenders like Payne are held to account for their actions."

Payne was also given a restraining order, was ordered to register with the police as a sex offender and pay a victim surcharge of £187.

Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.