Riddings man jailed for child sex offences

A man who bombarded two children with sexual messages on social media has been jailed.

Sean Whiteman began following the two girls on Instagram and sent them explicit messages, naked videos of himself, and pornographic videos and images to incite them into sexual activity.

The 38-year-old also repeatedly asked the girls, who he knew were in their early teens, to meet up with him for sex.

Whiteman, of Bradshaw Avenue, Riddings, was arrested in July 2024, and subsequently charged.

During a court hearing on 3 April 2025, he pleaded guilty to multiple counts of engaging in sexual communication with a child, causing a child to watch sexual activity, and inciting a cild to engage in sexual activity.

A judge handed Whiteman a six-year prison term during a sentencing hearing at Derby Crown Court on 15 May 2026.

He was also given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order, a 10-year restraining order in respect of both victims, and an order to register with police indefinitely.

Detective Constable Heather Rogers, from the force’s Child Sexual Exploitation Investigation Unit, said:

“Whiteman knew when he began following his victims on social media that they were young teenagers and deliberately sought them out and sent them a stream of sexually explicit content in a bid to get them to respond and/or meet him for sex.

“His behaviour was intimidating and predatory and had a significant impact on the girls involved.

“I am pleased that the judge has recognised the seriousness of Whiteman’s crimes by handing him a custodial sentence, and hope that today’s outcome offers some comfort to his victims.

“We take all reports of this nature extremely seriously and would urge anyone affected to contact us.”