A Watford man has been jailed for five years after befriending 13-year-old girls on Snapchat and paying them for sexual contact.

St Albans Crown Court heard that Simon Ross, 59, met the girls on an online chatroom before moving conversations on to Snapchat and exploiting them for his own sexual gratification.

When they met in person across the town and at his home address, between July 1 and August 17, 2022, Ross would buy them vapes and alcohol and discuss paying them for sexual favours.

He was charged on September 11, 2023, but denied seven counts of paying for sexual services of a child and two counts of causing sexual exploitation of a child.

Simon Ross.Simon Ross. (Image: Herts Police) Ross, of The Parade, High Street, was convicted of all offences before being handed the prison sentence on Friday, November 29, and is now subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. He pleaded guilty to one count of possessing an extreme pornographic image.

Detective Constable Jemma Warburton said: “Simon Ross exploited two young girls and preyed on their innocence. He was 56 at the time of the incidents and should have known better.

“This sort of crime will never be tolerated and we hope this sentence allows the victims to move on and rebuild their lives.

“I’m pleased Ross is now behind bars where he can no longer harm anyone else."

She continued: “Becoming a victim of sexual offences is never your fault. If you’ve been a victim, no matter how long ago the offence occurred, please report it.

“We have specialist officers on hand to provide advice and support throughout an investigation.

“The constabulary also has a number of officers who are specially trained to provide support to members of the LGBT+ community.”

Ross was investigated by Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Child Sexual Exploitation Team, which proactively targets and disrupts criminals who are sexually exploiting young people and works to safeguard those most at risk – as well as working to bring offenders to justice.

If a member of the public suspects a person of carrying out child sexual exploitation, or knows someone who has been a victim or may be soon, they are urged to call 101 or visit the force’s 'how to report possible child abuse' webpage - https://www.herts.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/caa/child-abuse/how-to-report-possible-child-abuse/.