Teesside Crown Court heard how 36-year-old Michael Mason pleaded guilty to one charge of trying to incite sexual activity with a child but denied three further counts of sexual activity with a girl. Mason, of no fixed abode, carried out all four offences in Darlington on one night several years ago. “It is to his credit that he pleaded guilty to these offences,” she said. “His guilty pleas do afford him ability to offer remorse, regret and shame for acting in the appalling way he did that night.” Judge Richard Clews sentenced the pervert to 12-months in custody and issued him with a five-year restraining order to protect his ‘vulnerable’ victim.