Sex offender contacted young girl
A Maidstone sex offender has admitted breaching a court order by contacting a nineyear-old schoolgirl over a mobile app.
Del Costen, 24, of Milton Street sent a friend request to the youngster last August via Snapchat, calling himself Del Boy and offering her gifts in return for pictures.
Maidstone Magistrates’ Court heard the girl became distressed and told her mother, who then took over the conversation.
The mother later rang him to tell him what she thought of him.
In 2011 Costen was convicted of making indecent images of children and subject to a sexual offences protection order banning him from making contact with anyone under the age of 16.
He said he did not know the girl, or initially how old she was, but conceded he continued to message her after she revealed her age.
The court heard he had removed himself from social media and no longer had access to the internet.
On Friday Costen admitted breaching a sexual offences protection order.
He will return to court on March 17 for sentencing.