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High-risk offender back in jail after sending Facebook messages to teen girl

Concerned father contacts Victoria police

An alert father, concerned over Facebook messages his 16-year-old daughter was receiving from a 47-year-old man, has helped Victoria police put a high-risk offender back behind bars.

When the teen, who lives in New Orleans, was allegedly contacted by the older man, her dad searched for the man's name on the Internet.

He came across a public notice that the Victoria Police Department had issued in 2010 about the parolee, who police believed was a risk to women at the time, said Const. Mike Russell, VicPD spokesperson.

The parolee's past criminal convictions include attempted forcible confinement, break and enter, assault and luring.

After receiving the father’s complaint, VicPD’s High Risk Offender officer contacted the Vancouver parole office.

The high-risk offender was arrested for violating his parole conditions. His parole was subsequently suspended Wednesday (Feb. 8), and returned to jail, Russell said.

The case comes on the heels of ‘Safer Internet Day’ on Feb. 7, which promotes Internet safety.

For resources parents can use to speak with their kids about safety on the Internet, please visit the Canadian Centre for Child Protection at www.thedoorthatsnotlocked.ca.

emccracken@vicnews.com