A YOUNG mother has issued a warning after she snared a paedophile who stole her social media profile and used it to exchange sexual messages with an underage teen.

Kirk Gibson took Alice Rutherford-Hyde’s name and pictures from her Snapchat account and created the profile of a lesbian on a social media app aimed at youngsters between 13 and 18. While chatting to his teen victim, who thought she was speaking to a young woman and had no idea she was actually communicating with a 31-year-old man, he subjected her to weeks of grooming and persuaded her to share intimate personal pictures.

Ms Rutherford-Hyde, of Newcastle, first learned the pervert had stolen her identity when the victim, who was a stranger to her, contacted her Instagram account, which was genuine. The 23-year-old instantly realised something was wrong as the teenager was talking to her as though she already knew her.

Ms Rutherford-Hyde maintained a dialogue with the girl, alerting her family and police about Gibson, who was living in Penrith, Cumbria, at the time and a previously convicted sex offender.

He was arrested and pleaded guilty to inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, sexual communication with a child, encouraging/assisting the commission of an offence and breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

At Carlisle Crown Court last month Gibson, of Scotland Road, Carnforth,

Lancashire, was jailed for six years.

Ms Rutherford-Hyde, who is heavily pregnant with her second child, is speaking out to warn people to change their social media settings to private to avoid being targeted.

The bar worker, who also has a seven-year-old daughter, said: “A girl got in touch with me on Instagram and I realised this wasn’t someone who was just randomly speaking to me. She said, ‘We have been talking every night.’

“She sent me pictures of myself and asked, ‘Is this not you?’

“I said that the pictures were of me, that’s my name and that’s my face but that is it. More and more pictures came through. I found it all really creepy. She was so young.

“Somebody had taken my pictures, I didn’t know if someone had been stalking me. I realised someone was using my identity to speak to a 15-year-old girl. She thought she was in love with me.

“It is disgusting, to maintain this level of a lie. It is scary. It was my name and face and someone could have knocked on my door and asked if I was talking to a 15-year-old.”

Ms Rutherford-Hyde contacted the police and was later given a commendation at Carlisle Crown Court by Cumbria’s High Sheriff, Marcia Reid Fotheringham.

She added: “I didn’t think twice. It was the right thing to do. It was nice to get the award, but to know the girl was safe and happy was enough. I felt so sorry for her. I barely post anything on social media now. People need to educate themselves

about social media and check up on their kids. I would urge everyone to be more careful about what they post on social media.”

As well as being jailed for six years Gibson was also handed a sexual harm prevention order, placed on the sex offenders' register and on the barring list. He was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £170.

Prosecutor Jon Close had told the court the girl spoke of wanting a family and of her plans to go to a school prom.

The defendant suggested meeting at the event and then “secretly” having sex afterwards.

After the case, Detective Constable Joanne French, of North Cumbria Crime and Safeguarding Team, welcomed the jail term, saying: “Gibson is a predatory offender who lured his victim into engaging in sexual activity online. He was elaborate in his methods in creating different personas to gain his victim’s trust and is now deservedly behind bars. I’d like the praise the victim for the bravery she has shown.

"I hope the sentencing can provide some closure. This case is another example of the length child sex offenders will go to engage with children online. It’s important young people realise the dangers that lurk online as there are people out there intent on exploiting children for their own sexual gratification.

"Further support and advice for young people and parents is available on the constabulary’s website.”

In 2012, Gibson was convicted of having sex with a vulnerable 14-year-old girl. Then living at Appleby Road, Kendal, he was arrested after members of the girl’s family became worried about her relationship with him. He had used Facebook social networking site, asking her to have sex with him.

Gibson was jailed for four years at Carlisle Crown Court after being found guilty of two counts of sexual activity with a female child under 16. He was also handed a sexual harm prevention order until further notice.