A 51-year-old man from Wirral has been jailed for sex offences after indecent images and messages he sent to a teenage girl were found on his phone.
Karl Waterhouse of Noctorum was sentenced to 18 months at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday (Wednesday 22 February) after pleading guilty to causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, sexual communication with a child and possessing a number of Category C indecent photographs of a child.
In December 2021 indecent photos of a teenage girl and messages of a sexual nature were found on Waterhouse’s phone dating back to December 2019.
Waterhouse was also issued a restraining order for five years and a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years.
Detective Inspector Philip Ryan said, “For years Waterhouse groomed his victim by sending her messages and storing disturbing images on his personal phone.
“His deplorable behaviour caused great psychological harm to his victim and we welcome the sentences given out by the court.
“I hope this result gives his victim some sort of closure and allows them to move on with their lives knowing he cannot harm them or anyone else.
“Merseyside Police is completely committed to protecting children from sexual abuse and those who seek to do them harm. I would like to take this opportunity to reassure anyone who has suffered a sexual offence that if you can find the courage to come forward please speak to us as soon as you can. Our specially trained officers will treat you with sensitivity and compassion.”
If you are a child or young person suffering sexual or physical abuse, the following organisations can also provide help and support:
NSPCC – call 0808 800 5000 or e-mail help@nspcc.org.uk 
Childline – call 0800 1111
If you’ve been affected by sexual violence of any kind don’t be afraid to tell someone, find the courage to come forward and get the help you deserve.
You can report rape, sexual assault and other sexual offences anonymously here: https://www.merseyside.police.uk/ro/report/rsa/alpha-v1/advice/rape-sexual-assault-and-other-sexual-offences/how-to-report-rape-sexual-assault-other-sexual-offences/
There is a lot of support available from specialist officers within Merseyside Police and through the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Victim Care Merseyside service delivered jointly by two registered charities.
In Liverpool, Sefton and Wirral, support is provided by Rape and Sexual Abuse Support (RASA) Merseyside who are available on 0151 558 1801 and, in St Helens and Knowsley, by the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre (RASASC) Cheshire and Merseyside who can be contacted on 01925 221 546 or 0330 363 0063.
Image: Karl Waterhouse/Merseyside Police
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