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Police are urging parents to warn children of the dangers of text messaging after the arrest of a Central Otago man charged with sexual grooming.
Police said yesterday they were concerned about the use of text messages by older adults to entice young people into sexual activity.
A 46-year-old Alexandra man faces several charges of sexual grooming and sexual connection involving a 14-year-old girl.
Acting Detective Sergeant Ian Kerrisk, of Alexandra police, said the man met the girl through his employment and, over a period of months, allegedly sent her explicit text messages that eventually led to sex.
"This girl has her own cellphone and her parents were completely unaware of what was occurring," Mr Kerrisk said.
Other similar cases in Central Otago had highlighted teens were vulnerable to such incidents.
- NZPA
