A convicted sex offender has admitted grooming and sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl after her brave friend flagged up incriminating messages when she asked for a job.
Gary Cawthorne, 53, of Greenhithe, Kent, used an alias of Lee Mason to make contact with the vulnerable London teenager and promised her a job.
They met up on several occasions and he sexually assaulted her.
Cawthorne admitted two counts of sexual assault on a child under 16, grooming and breaching a sexual offences prevention order at Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday.
He was brought to justice after the victim’s friend showed her parents messages in which he requested photographs of her body.
The friend found messages on the girl’s phone under the name of Lee and used another name to ask him for a job.
Lee then asked her for a photo to which she sent a facial shot but he then sent further requests for more pictures, including some of her body.
The friend told her parents who contacted the school which then notified police on Monday, February 29.
Detectives investigated and identified Lee Mason as Cawthorne through the phone number he used to contact both girls.
He was arrested three days later and then charged.
At court it was revealed Cawthorne was convicted of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl in October 2012.
Detective Constable Tony Foran from the Met's sexual offences, exploitation and child abuse command said: "Cawthorne is a known sex offender and is a danger to children and has totally disregarded the provisions of his SOPO.
"He pursued the 14-year-old girl by phone and in person. Then he sexually assaulted her.
"The victim's friend became suspicious of his contact and thanks to her brave actions she was able to flag up his activities to her parents who then alerted the authorities."
Cawthorne will be sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday, May 31.
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