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Doherty told police he thought the girl was 16.

Miss Wetherley said Doherty told police he exchanged photos with the girl and met her in a vehicle, but when asked about sexual contact he replied: “No comment”.

He said he thought she was already 16 until he became aware of ‘happy birthday’ messages sent to the girl, on her 16th birthday.

Miss Wetherley said a download of messages on the girl’s phone revealed there had been sexual contact between the pair several days before she turned 16.

They discussed previous sexual encounters but there were several deleted messages.

Police continued to download messages, though, and applied to Durham Crown Court to vary the SHPO relating to Doherty’s online usage.

Not Forever wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 8:44 pm I want to play a game. If someone’s coming-of-age birthday is the next day, but the relationship is online and they’re in a different time zone, so in their own country that person is actually of legal age but not in the country where they reside—is that legal?

What if the roles are reversed? I mean, if the minor is abroad in a country eight hours ahead, and the adult is in the home country—

Sorry, maybe I’m getting a bit carried away with this.