A Ripon man who tried to meet an underage girl for sex was found with a lock knife when he was arrested in Harrogate.

Mark David, 32-years-old, appeared at York Crown Court today when he admitted carrying a lock knife in High Street, Starbeck.

The offence occurred on December 15, 2019 which was the same day he had arranged to meet a 14-year-old girl for sexual purposes.

Prior to his plea to the knife offence at the crown court, David had already admitted two counts of attempted sexual communication with two girls under 16 years of age.

Those offences occurred in Harrogate between November 25 and December 16, 2019. The communication was via Whatsapp and Facebook Messenger.

David, of North Street, Ripon, also admitted the offence of arranging to meet an under-age girl for sex in Harrogate.

Judge Simon Hickey granted David bail until sentence on July 11 but warned him that all sentencing options were open to the court, including jail.

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