Man convicted of child grooming offences escapes jail sentence

Christopher Hartfield, 41, unemployed, of Hamsey Road, appeared at Brighton Crown Court on March 23 and was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

He was sentenced for attempting to meet a girl under 16 following grooming, and attempting to incite a girl aged between 13 and 15 to engage in sexual activity.

Police confirmed both offences took place in Hove.

Hartfield will be a registered sex offender for ten years and was given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) to last until further court notice, severely restricting his access to children and computers, police said.

The prosecution, authorised by the CPS, followed an investigation by detectives from the Brighton Safeguarding Investigation Unit after information was received from a member of the public.

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