A judge has called for youngsters to receive “urgent” extra education about the dangers posed by perverted online predators.

And police have also urged parents and guardians to speak with their children, to check who they are communicating with on the internet.

The call from Judge Tony Lancaster suggested additional internet instructions be given as he locked up paedophile Christopher Hodder.

Hodder, a former circus skills instructor and youth camp worker, was jailed at Carlisle Crown Court for four years for a raft of child sex offences.

A previously convicted sex offender, he flouted a court order by seeking out boys via Facebook.

Hodder, 31, of Union Square, Kirkby Stephen, was said to have “hunted” out early-teen victims, setting up a bogus social media profile through which he pretended to be a girl.

He then tricked unsuspecting boys into providing intimate images of themselves.

He admitted 19 criminal charges which included 13 counts of either causing or inciting children to engage in sexual activity – or trying to.

Judge Lancaster said: “The case is a reminder to parents and young people of how easily young people are put at risk by unsupervised and unfiltered access to social media sites.

“There is a need for urgent consideration to be given to regular instruction and education to children on what to look out for to avoid future similar grooming situations.”


Jenny Beattie Detective Inspector Jenny Beattie, of Cumbria Police’s digital media investigation unit, spoke after the case.

She said: “It is very difficult in this day and age for parents to protect their children online from predators.

“I would encourage parents and guardians to speak with their children regularly about what they are doing online and who they are communicating with.”

Det Insp Beattie added: “I’d like to praise the victims and their families for the courage they have shown throughout our investigation.”