Man jailed for using Snapchat to meet vulnerable girl

A man has been jailed after using the messaging app Snapchat to meet up with a vulnerable teenage girl.

Luke Morgan Leon Burton, from Carterton in Oxfordshire, was found by police in a vehicle with the girl in Weymouth, Dorset, in April 2025, having driven to meet her.

Burton previously pleaded guilty to a series of sexual offences, including two counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity and one of causing a child to watch a sexual act.

During a hearing at Bournemouth Crown Court on Monday, the 34-year-old was jailed for six years and four months and indefinitely placed on the sex offenders register.

He was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years and is the subject of a five-year restraining order from his victim.

Dorset Police said officers had seized Barton's digital devices after he was found in a vehicle with his teenage victim last year.

The force said this had led to the discovery of messages on the Snapchat social media app arranging to meet the girl, as well as messages to other underage girls and indecent images.

In connection with the incident, he pleaded guilty to five counts of possessing indecent images and two counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity.

He also admitted one count each of causing a child to watch a sexual act, sexual communication with a child and attempted sexual communication with a child.

Det Sgt Al Marks, from Dorset Police, said Burton "posed a serious risk" to teenage girls and had "carried out his offending despite knowing how old his victims were".

"This case serves as a reminder to parents to make sure their children are protected when online," he added.