Derbyshire paedophile who lied about his age tried to send 'stream of sexual content' to teenage girl
He ‘went on to offend again, despite a previous jail term for a similar offence.’
A convicted sex offender who pretended to be a teenager and attempted to send sexually explicit messages to a child has been jailed.
Zak Waring, 26, of Ashbounre used online platform Bigo to speak to a young girl who he believed was 13, before moving their conversations to WhatsApp.
He did not know that the girl’s account was a decoy created by an online child abuse activist group.
Waring sent a stream of sexual content to the ‘girl’ encouraging her to perform sex acts and send him photos and videos.
He told her he was 16 but that his profile photo made him ‘look older’.
The 26-year-old committed the offences while subject to a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order which banned him from using any messaging service to contact a child under 16.
Waring, who has a previous conviction for a similar offence, began speaking with the ‘girl’ in April 2026 and continued to message ‘her’ for several days.
During this time, he also sent a picture and video of himself performing a sex act.
Waring, of Lodge Avenue, Ashbourne, was arrested on April 22 and charged with multiple offences.
These included attempt to cause/incite a girl aged 13-15 to engage in sexual activity – penetration, adult attempt to engage in sexual communication with a child, offender 18 or over attempt to cause a child aged 13-15 to watch/look at an image of sexual activity and attempt to breach Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).
He was remanded into police custody and appeared at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates Court on April, 23.
The court remanded him into prison custody, ahead of a hearing on May 21, where Waring pleaded guilty to all offences.
He was sentenced at Derby Crown Court on October 16 and handed a jail term of eight years and three months.
Waring was also given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and is required to register with police indefinitely.
He must also pay a court fine of £228 upon his release.
Officer in the case, PC Michelle Azizi said: “Zak Waring went on to offend again, despite a previous jail term for a similar offence and ongoing court orders prohibiting him from contacting children.
"His continued desire to communicate sexually with children, for his own sexual gratification and his disregard for the law, make him extremely dangerous.
“Thankfully no actual children were harmed by Waring’s offending in this case.
“I am pleased to see that the judge acknowledged the seriousness of Waring’s reoffending by affording him an extended prison sentence for the risk he poses to the public.”
If you are a victim of sexual violence, or know someone who is a victim there is support available.
A Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) is a place you can go after a rape or sexual assault to get confidential medical, practical and emotional support from specialist doctors, nurses and support workers.
Some SARCs are in hospitals, others stand alone. They have different names in different locations.
Millfield House is the SARC for Derbyshire.
Independent sexual violence advisors (ISVAs) are specially trained staff who give practical and emotional support to adults, children and their families.
You can find more about ISVA support online.
Following organisation offer support on national level:
24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line – Provides free, specialist and confidential support for victims of sexual violence or abuse. It's open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It's delivered by Rape Crisis England and Wales, funded by UK Government.
Rape Crisis – Umbrella organisation supporting the work of Rape Crisis Centres for women and girls across England and Wales
Survivors Trust – Umbrella agency for specialist rape and sexual abuse services around the UK. Find Survivors Trust members in your area
Victim Support – Charity helping anyone affected by crime including victims, witnesses, friends, family and anyone else affected.