Former Telford pub landlord exchanged sexual messages with girl

David Arrowsmith, formerly of the Foresters Arms in Madeley, Telford, has now moved out of the area as a result of the offences, Shrewsbury Crown Court heard.

The 47-year-old had previously pleaded guilty to three counts of inciting a child under the age of 16 to engage in sexual activity. The offences date back to December last year.

Mrs Debra White, representing Arrowsmith, said he had taken full responsibility for his actions and had already spent three months remanded in custody at Hewell prison in Redditch.

She said: "He's someone who has spent time on remand and has moved away from the area as a result of this offence.

"He has a partner. He has a young child."

Arrowsmith, who now lives in Bucks Hill, Nuneaton, was told by Judge Peter Barrie that he had behaved in a very bad and a very damaging way towards the girl.

He said: "The outcome of that relationship you had with her was that you had this exchange of highly explicit phone messages over the Christmas period, which were clear incitement to serious sexual activity."

He said he should not have taken advantage of her and instead should have made sure nothing came of it.

Judge Barrie told the court that no penetrative sexual activity resulted from the messages that were sent.

Sentencing Arrowsmith, he told him: "I accept you pleaded guilty to these offences as soon as the opportunity was placed before you."

But he went on to add: "This was still serious offending."

He said if the matter had gone to trial Arrowsmith could have expected a custodial sentence.

But Judge Barrie told him that he accepted he had already served a period of time in custody on remand, and therefore felt a community order would be a more fitting punishment.

Arrowsmith was given a 12-month community order and will have to complete a 30 day rehabilitation activity requirement.

He will have to follow a programme designed for sex offenders.

Judge Barrie made a requirement that Arrowsmith keeps police informed of where he is living for the next five years.

He also made a five-year sexual harm prevention order and told Arrowsmith he would be barred from working with children in the future, for a period of time yet to be decided.