A teenager who pestered a young girl with sexually explicit messages had Googled 'What happens if you get caught texting a minor?', a court heard.

Bradley Battell also went on the Quora website to ask "Can I get in trouble if I don't know a person is underage?", and told his partner in messages to her that he had made "a huge f***ing mistake".

Then 19, he was said to have made "persistent efforts" over 10 days to meet his young victim for sex and, had she agreed, a judge remarked there was "no doubt" such activity would have occurred.

But despite being viewed as posing a danger to children, Battell was spared prison when he appeared for sentencing at Maidstone Crown Court on August 19.

Battell, now 21, of Lakeside, Snodland, admitted one offence of engaging in sexual communication with a child in 2022.

The court heard he was arrested after the messages, in which he also asked her to send him indecent images, were discovered by the victim's father.

Although she did not agree to his requests, she later told police his behaviour had left her feeling scared and stressed.

"When I received the messages I didn't know what to do. I was worried because I wanted to tell someone because I knew it wasn't right," the girl wrote in her victim impact statement.

‘The defendant is a danger to children...’

In a report prepared by the probation service ahead of the hearing, Battell denied having a sexual interest in the girl.

His lawyer Kieran Brand told the court, however, "looking back, what else could those messages have meant" although he added that Battell had told him he would have said "no" if she had agreed to his suggestions.

But Mr Brand added that any continuing risk posed could be reduced - and the public better served - with a custodial sentence "hanging over his head" and probation's assistance.

"In our submission, given what he has shown in terms of the last two years that he can remain offence-free, and given the success rate of programmes such as Horizon, he can be punished with a suspended sentence, coupled with those rehabilitative programmes," he argued.

He also told the court that Battell had not attempted to contact any other child and the internet searches were limited to the two found by police following his arrest.

Imposing a 10-month jail term suspended for 18 months, deputy circuit judge, Judge Charles Macdonald KC, said the offence was aggravated by its persistence.

But he stated that while Battell was considered a danger, the risk of him re-offending was low.

"The offence comprised about 10 days of persistent efforts to meet for penetrative sex....He also sought indecent images from her but she didn't send them," remarked Judge Macdonald.

"The pre-sentence report says he is of high risk to children… I have no doubt he would have had sex with the victim if they had met.

"The defendant is a danger to children in the sense of danger of serious harm but he is at low risk of re-offending and there are clear prospects of rehabilitation."

As part of his sentence, Battell must complete the Horizon sex offender treatment programme, a mental health treatment programme and 20 rehabilitation activity requirements.

He will also have to sign on the sex offenders’ register and be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years, and has been barred from working with children.