Drug dealer pleads guilty to exploiting teenager

A man has pleaded guilty to exploiting a teenage girl as part of a drug network on social media.

A police investigation in 2021 uncovered David Young, from Greylees Avenue, Hull, was operating a drug-selling social media page and had engaged in explicit communications with a 16-year-old girl.

On Monday at Hull Crown Court, the 55-year-old admitted to paying for sexual services of a child. He previously pleaded guilty in August to being concerned in the supply of class B drugs and possession with intent to supply class B drugs.

Young was released on bail and is due to appear at Hull Crown Court on 16 June for sentencing.

Young was arrested on 24 January 2022 after messages through the drug-selling account revealed meetings had been arranged, initially for the sale of cannabis, and offering drugs and money in exchange for sexual acts.

Further messages included requests for nude images and explicit photos were sent during continued interactions with a teenage girl.

A search was conducted at a property on Alexandra Court in Hull where herbal cannabis, cannabis edibles, baking equipment and pricing tools were seized.

The street value of the drugs was estimated at more than £6,000.

Analysis of Young's phone uncovered marketing messages, product menus and pricing details for the substances being distributed.

Det Sgt Stuart Fox, who led the investigation for Humberside Police, said Young had operated the account "not only to distribute illegal substances but also to coerce, manipulate, and exploit a vulnerable teenage girl".

He said Young "made the victim wait nine months before changing his mind" over his eventual guilty plea.

"This only prolonged the victim's distress, delayed justice, and the lengthy legal process meant the victim had to endure months of uncertainty," he said.

Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.