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A “sexual predator” from North Lincolnshire who used social media sites to prey on teenage girls has been jailed for more than five years.

Alex Holdsworth, 29, manipulated five girls into sending him indecent images of themselves, also sending explicit images himself.

On one occasion, he met up with a girl and sexually abused her.

Detectives praised the victims for helping to “bring this perverted man to justice”.

Holdsworth, of Ramblers Lane in Barton-Upon-Humber, was jailed for five years and four months at Grimsby Crown Court on 18 October.

He was also given a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years and placed on the sexual offenders register indefinitely.

He had pleaded guilty to eight offences at an earlier hearing.

These were four counts of sexual communication with a child, three counts of causing or inciting children to engage in sexual activity and one count of making an indecent photograph of a child.

Police have now released a statement commending the bravery of the victims and their families.

Holdsworth had targeted the five young girls through social media sites in August 2021 with the intention to gain their trust and take advantage of them, Humberside Police said.

'Bravery and courage'

Det Con Jeannine Armstrong, said: “Firstly, I would like to commend the victims and their families who have showed nothing but bravery and courage throughout the course of the investigation and court proceedings.

“I know how incredibly difficult it can be to come forward and take that first step but, by reporting these offences to us, they have helped us bring this perverted man to justice.

“I hope the sentencing will provide them with some closure in knowing this sexual predator can no longer cause harm to them or any other child."