Teen avoids jail after sexually abusing girls

Tom Arthur Hebden, 19, was warned with prison after his father Graham Hebden, 49, was jailed at Hull Crown Court for grooming the girl, but his son escaped a jail term after prosecutors said his acts were consensual.

Hebden, jnr, pleaded guilty to six sexual offences against the girl abused by his father and admitted nine others against two other underage girls he courted on Snapchat and by mobile messages. The judge said his father had been a poor role model.

The Crown dropped a case where Hebden jnr was accused of pinning a girl against a wall attempting to kiss her.

Hebden Jnr, of West End, Ulrome, appeared for sentence at Hull Crown Court (February 19) after pleading guilty to 12 charges of engaging in sexual activity with a child, two charges of causing a child to engage and one charge of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.

Crown barrister Charlotte Baines said prosecutors accepted the activity was consensual, but Hebden was often the instigator.

Other offences were committed at public events among numerous people, which caused the girls to be embarrassed.

Defence barrister Paul Genney said Hebden had been involved in youthful experimentation and had received abuse on Facebook which was summary justice. He had also been suspended from college and banned from playing cricket by the sport’s governing body.

Judge Simon Jack said: “How it comes about that a lad of 16 is able to get very drunk, and be alone in the company of an under-age girl, I find hard to understand.

“Clearly, you were much too young to have bought the drink. Someone must have bought it for you, and they bear partial responsibility for what happened.”

Judge Jack sentenced Hebden to a nine-month suspended prison sentence and said his father’s offending had influenced his crimes.

The judge said: “Clearly, you did not have the best example as to how you should behave.

“Parents often carry a high level of responsibility for the way their children behave, and I have no doubt that has played a part in your offending.”