Sven Halstein, a man who abandoned a 15-year-old girl out of concern she might be raped after encountering her at a hotel in North Cumbria, has received a 45-month prison sentence.
Sven Halstein, a 37-year-old German national, commenced an online conversation with the adolescent via the dating application Badoo on June 6.
Carlisle Crown Court was informed that the child explicitly stated her age and that she was communicating from school.
As their dialogue transitioned to WhatsApp, Sven Halstein transmitted explicit photographs to the girl, with whom he scheduled a meeting at Penrith’s Premier Inn the subsequent day.
They went to a room where Sven Halstein pushed himself on to the girl and engaged in sexual activity. “During the course of that she was able to get hold of her phone and messaged her friend, saying she was ‘going to get raped’,” said Rob Wyn Jones, prosecuting.
Friends and the girl’s father went to the hotel, where she was seen to be upset and shaky.
Sven Halstein was detained and analysis of his phone showed he had previously made the web search sex with minors in England.
On arrest he told police: “I just wanted to have fun.”
But the harrowing impact of his sexual offending against the girl was outlined in a graphic statement provided by the girl’s mother. “She describes her hope that (her daughter) will be strong enough to get through all of this,” said Mr Wyn Jones, “but worries that the family will never be the same again.”
Counselling had been provided for the girl, who spoke about rarely leaving her home now. “She feels guilty, ashamed and blames herself for what happened,” added the prosecutor.
Yet the judge who passed sentence today told Sven Halstein it had been his responsibility that the child was kept safe.
Sven Halstein admitted a six offences — engaging in penetrative and non-penetrative sexual activity with a child, sexual communication with a child and arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence by booking the hotel room.
Brendan O’Leary, mitigating, said dad-of-two Sven Halstein, of no fixed address, had no previous criminal convictions and had entered early guilty pleas, adding: “Mr Halstein expressed to me, and expresses to your honour, his genuine and sincere remorse for this offending.”
Imposing an immediate prison sentence, Judge Nicholas Barker told Sven Halstein: “I am satisfied of the following: that you knew that she was 15 and, as such, that she was young and vulnerable; and you knew that your activity was illegal.”
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.