Online sex predator pleads guilty to charges over teen he met on Facebook

Karl Sheridan Salmon met the young girl on Facebook. File photo

An online sex predator who met a 14-year-old girl on Facebook before having sex with her has today pleaded guilty.

Karl Sheridan Salmon, 21, met the young girl on the popular social media site.

He then met up with her last year, and filmed himself having sex with her, police said.

Salmon later used the footage to blackmail her into giving him intimate photographs of herself. He also threatened to kill her.

Today, in the High Court at Christchurch, Salmon admitted charges of sexual connection with a young person, doing an indecent act on a young person, possession of an objectionable publication, blackmail, and threatening to kill.

Police had initially charged him with rape but laid an alternative charge of sexual connection which Salmon pleaded guilty to.

It follows guilty pleas to similar charges he admitted earlier this year.

The charges relate to crimes committed in North Canterbury on four teenage girls he met online last year and early this year.

Defence counsel Andrew McCormick called for a psychiatric report to be prepared ahead of sentencing on November 12.

Justice Cameron Mander remanded Salmon in custody.