Accrington rapist targeted girl, 15, through Facebook (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Accrington rapist targeted girl, 15, through Facebook

8:20am Saturday 7th August 2010 in

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PARENTS have been given a ‘massive warning’ about social networking sites after a convicted rapist lured a 15-year-old girl to his home through Facebook.

Police said families ‘must be aware of the dangers’ and take heed of the case of Accrington sex offender Kevin Hodson, 49.

Hodson made contact with the girl through the Facebook website and 'offered a listening ear'.

She later travelled up from London to Preston by bus to visit Hodson who picked her up from the station.

The girl then spent two weeks at his Accrington home before Hodson was arrested after her parents reported her missing from home.

Police found indecent images of the girl, and another girl, on his phones and computers.

It was also discovered that the girl had taken indecent images of herself on a mobile phone and sent them to Hodson.

She was said to be 'in love' with Hodson.

The relationship was started when the girl was 15. The court was told the pair had sex, but only after she turned 16.

In the past, Hodson, 49, of Victoria Street, Accrington, served an eight-year prison term for rape and indecent assault.

At the time of his latest offences, he was on licence relating to a sentence for having child pornography.

He had also been barred from having any contact with girls under 16.

And police and probation service workers were paying him regular monthly visits.

But it did not stop Hodson from targeting the girl.

After the case, Detective Constable Julia Hodgson, from the Accrington Public Protection Unit, said: “Hodson is a manipulative individual who preys on young and vulnerable girls.

“He was purporting to be younger than he actually was and posted a photo which wasn’t him.

“He used various guises on different sites and would take an interest in the girls’ lives, being someone they could talk to about their problems and offering a listening ear.”

“This case is a massive warning about the use of social networking sites for young people and their parents. The must be aware of the dangers.

Hodson yesterday pleaded guilty at Preston Crown Court to several offences of making and taking indecent photographs.

Richard Haworth, prosecuting, said contact between Hodson and the girl was made via the social networking site in November 2008.

She travelled up to see him last December.

When the girl was interviewed she said Hodson had initially said he was 22 and that he worked for the child protection unit.

After she met him, he said he was 32, but this was still not his true age.

Mr Haworth told the court: "It is clear from the moment she met him face to face for the first time that she engaged in a fully sexual relationship with him.

"There were indecent images. He told her to take indecent images of her body and to send them to him.

“The girl said she was in love with him. Eventually, he told her his correct age."

The court also heard that a couple of the offences related to another girl from the Kent area, of whom indecent images were also made.

Back in 1999 Hodson was sentenced to eight years prison for raping a girl under sixteen and indecent assault.

Then in October 2006 he was given 16 months jail for making and possessing indecent photographs.

A sexual offences prevention order was made, barring him from having contact with any girls under sixteen.

Sentencing in the latest case was put back several weeks and Hodson was further remanded in custody.

Facebook did not respond to requests for a comment.