A WEYMOUTH man has been told he faces a ‘significant term of imprisonment’ after admitting sexual offences with girls as young as 12.

Ryan Lee James Highfield, of Wyke Road, pleaded guilty to the charge of arranging to meet a child after sexual grooming when he appeared at Dorchester Crown Court.

The court was told the 26-year-old arranged to meet with the victim, a girl who he knew to be under the age of 16 and who was aged between 12 and 13, on two occasions between June and October last year.

Highfield had previously admitted two charges of sexual activity with a child, which relates to offences that occurred on July 14 last year with a different victim.

At a previous hearing he had denied a charge of rape and he also pleaded not guilty to an offence of assault by penetration involving that same young victim.

Prosecutor Carolyn-Branford Wood said the pleas entered were acceptable to the Crown Prosecution Service and it would not seek a trial on the two offences that Highfield denied.

Robert Pawson, representing Highfield, said his client had admitted the two offences on the basis it was the 14-year-old girl who had instigated the sexual contact.

The case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report to be prepared, with Highfield remanded in custody until August 17.

Judge Roger Jarvis told the defendant: “You have now admitted another serious sexual matter and I require a fuller pre-sentence report dealing with your position in relation to that.

“There is a real likelihood of a very significant term of imprisonment.”

The judge also ordered Highfield be placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register.

Charity hoping that sentence will be 'robust'

Claudia Knights, director of Kidscape charity, which works to prevent bullying and protect children, said: “These are very serious sexual offences against girls as young as 12, and it is to be hoped that the sentence will be robust enough to act as a deterrent to others who feel inclined to act in a similar manner. For a 26-year-old man to claim that a sexual act was instigated by a 14-year-old girl is unacceptable.

“The responsibility always lies with the adult.

“There were also situations in this case which involved the grooming of young girls in the knowledge that they cannot give informed consent.

“This case highlights the need for parents and carers to talk to their children about ways of recognising grooming behaviour, to take an active interest in their online life, and to remind them never to meet virtual strangers without a trusted adult being present.”