Teenager groomed before sex assault
A MAN groomed a teenage girl before meeting up with her and launching a sexual assaulting.
Dave Hirchfield sent sexual messages to the young girl and told her that he loved her after carrying out the assault on February 9.
The 20-year-old also tried to persuade the girl to spend the night with him at his home in Sheffield, but she refused.
He was later arrested on his way back to the train station, but lied to officers, telling them his name was “Bob” and that he was from Dublin, Durham Crown Court heard.
Hirchfield appeared at the court via link from HMP Durham to be sentenced for engaging in sexual communication with a child, meeting a child following sexual grooming, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, and sexual assault.
Elizabeth Muir, prosecuting, said in October 2021, the girl’s mum became aware Hirchfield had been messaging her daughter on Facebook.
After checking her phone, she saw that the messages were “not sexual in nature”, but still decided to “block” Hirchfield.
But on February 9, this year, the girl told her mum she was travelling to Bishop Auckland.
Later that day, the mum checked another phone that belonged to her daughter where she found messages from Hirchfield “arranging to meet” and others indicating “sexual activity between them”.
The police were then called and patrolling officers spotted the girl in the town, but she appeared “anxious”.
“The police approached her and she told officers she had fallen over and also walked into a lamppost”, Ms Muir said.
“Other officers located the defendant through CCTV and approached him near Princes Street where he asked where he could get a taxi.
“He said his name was Bob and said he was from Dublin and was trying to get home.”
After Hirchfield was taken to the police station, he gave his correct name, the court heard.
Ms Muir said that Hirchfield’s plan was to “return to Sheffield and spend the night with her”.
Sexual messages sent by Hirchfield were later found, as well as others where he said he “loved her”.
The court heard that he “kissed” the girl and gave her a “love bite” during their meet and also exposed himself to her.
In interview Hirchfield, of St Elizabeth Close, Sheffield, initially denied the offences but later admitted he gave the
girl love bites. “He said he knew what he had done was wrong and would take any punishment like a man”, Ms Muir added.
In mitigation, Ian West said Hirchfield had no previous convictions and is a “product of the care system”.
“He has been remanded in custody since these offences appeared in the magistrates’ court so he’s had a taste of what custody is like”, he said.
“He’s heard the clang of the prison gates. You can take a chance with this 20-year-old, who has his own mental health and vulnerabilities.”
Sentencing Hirchfield, Judge Ray Singh said he made a “concerted and successful attempt” to meet the girl and that he “tried to persuade her to go back with you to your home in Sheffield”.
“You repeatedly told her you loved her, all elements of significant grooming on your part”, he said.
Hirchfield was given 26 months detention and a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.
He will also be on the sex offender’s register for 10 years.