Pleading guilty to grooming

A BELMONT man is set to admit he groomed an underage child on social media, a court has heard.

Timothy Tabor, 21, appeared via video link at Geelong Magistrates’ Court on Friday for a mention hearing.

His lawyer, Niamh Harrington, said Mr Tabor would plead guilty to numerous charges when the case returned to court later this month.

Several charges have been withdrawn as part of a deal with prosecutors, with Mr Tabor intending to plead guilty to offences including grooming for sexual conduct with a child under-16.

The charge relates to a 15year-old girl Mr Tabor allegedly targeted through social media platforms, including Instagram and Snapchat. The allegations include claims he sent the child explicit images.

Mr Tabor has been in custody since his arrest in May.

The court heard Mr Tabor’s guilty pleas would trigger a breach of a community correction order that was imposed on him in December last year.

Senior Constable Kylie Jane said the prosecution would be seeking a jail term.

Mr Tabor was remanded until a plea hearing on July 21.