Paedophile jailed for sex offences and grooming
Cumbria PoliceA man who groomed a girl and carried out serious sexual offences has been jailed.
Jamie Hardy, 34, from Whitehaven admitted three counts of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a girl, sexual communication and meeting a child after sexual grooming.
Cumbria Police said Hardy initially denied the offences and tried to hide his crimes by wiping his phone the day after officers were contacted.
Hardy, of Meadow Road, who admitted the offences in November, was handed a prison sentence of five years four months, a 10-year restraining order and a sexual harm prevention order for life at Carlisle Crown Court.
Det Con Kathryn Chestney said Hardy was "aware of the victims age when he committed the offences and denied them in interview".
"In an attempt to hide his offending, Hardy wiped his phone removing any evidence of his communication with the child.
"He did this the day after officers were contacted and was aware he was wanted by police," she said.