SCHOOLGIRL Chloe was getting ready for bed when her phone pinged.

       But on reading the Snapchat message from her mum's new boyfriend, the 14-year-old stopped in her tracks - the man who had once helped with her homework was now asking for X-rated pictures.

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       Teen Chloe, now 16, with her mum Sarah Anstee, 36 Credit: WNS 6

       Predator Ben Gleeson, 36, who was jailed for sexual communication with a child Credit: WNS

       Horrified Chloe called out to her mum Sarah Anstee, who immediately threw out partner Ben Gleeson and called the police.

       Gleeson, 36, from Flint, originally pleaded not guilty after trying to wriggle out of his predator behaviour, claiming he'd been having an affair with another woman called 'Chloe' and he'd sent the text by mistake.

       But on the day of the trial at Mold Crown Court, he pleaded guilty and was jailed for ten months for sexual communication with a child in October last year.

       Now Sarah and Chloe, who has bravely waived her right to anonymity, are speaking out to warn other potential victims of grooming.

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       Sarah, 36, said: "Ben was my friend for a long time before he became my partner.

       "I never dreamt he had such despicable intentions towards my 14-year-old teenage daughter.

       "He was very protective towards Chloe and I thought he really cared about her.

       "It has devastated me and I wondered if I had missed signs, but I was told by police I had been groomed, too."

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       Sarah feared she might have missed signs, but was told by police she too was a victim Credit: WNS

       Sarah had barely recovered from her last relationship breakdown when Gleeson, a known pal, became extra caring.

       The mum-of-three had been diagnosed with cervical cancer and underwent a full hysterectomy, but the stress and pressure had taken its toll on her relationship with the father of her children and they split.

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       All of a sudden Gleeson was regularly popping over for cups of tea.

       Sarah said: "It was so nice just to have someone just listen to me and understand how I was feeling.

       "Soon Ben was popping around our house regularly for cups of tea and to watch movies with me and the children.

       "I noticed Ben had taken a real shine to my daughter Chloe, 14, and one day I came in the living room and he was sitting next to her."

       Chloe told her Gleeson was helping with her homework. He then won over Sarah by showering her with chocolates and bunches of flowers.

       Red flags

       But six months after he moved in, red flags started to appear.

       Sarah said: "I began to see a very different, controlling side to his personality.

       "Then I found out he'd bought Chloe a vape behind my back. I was absolutely furious.

       "Chloe confessed he'd given it to her and told her, 'It'll be our little secret, Chloe'.

       "I should have told him to do one then, but I didn't."

       I began to see a very different, controlling side to his personality. Then I found out he'd bought Chloe a vape behind my back. I was absolutely furious

       Sarah Anstee

       Sarah showed mercy on Ben because she believed he didn't understand parenting. But instead of things improving, it got worse.

       "One night I was in the living room with Ben and Chloe watching TV," Sarah recalled.

       "Ben had come in from work and we'd had a takeaway for tea. I'd noticed he didn't seem himself, he had a sort of glazed, vacant expression.

       "The boys were with their dad so it was just the three of us.

       "Chole said she was off to bed, and as she walked out of the living room door, Ben stroked her hair.

       "I snapped, 'You can't stroke her hair like that!'"

       Vile bribe 6

       Chloe was just 14 when Gleeson tried to bribe her for 'topless' pictures Credit: WNS

       Later that night when the couple went to bed, Gleeson was reportedly "glued to his phone".

       Suspicious he might be having an affair, Sarah questioned him, but he assured her he was checking working emails.

       Sarah said: "Then all I heard was Chloe calling out for me from her bedroom. When I went in her room and she was crying and terribly distressed.

       "She handed me her phone and I could not believe what I was reading: 'Chloe... Will you send me some topless photos of yourself. I'll give you a limitless supply of vapes'.

       Gleeson had reportedly started with a "friendly exchange" on Snapchat before he started to call Chloe "babe" and "gorgeous".

       Chloe, now 16, said she began receiving messages from Gleeson asking for indecent photos at 11pm, telling her: "It'll stay between us."

       She handed me her phone and I could not believe what I was reading: 'Chloe... Will you send me some topless photos of yourself. I'll give you a limitless supply of vapes'

       Sarah Anstee

       She said: "It was really scary, because I knew he was in the house when he sent it.

       "I didn't know what to do, and whether to let my mum know or not.

       "I wanted to tell her, but I was more scared about what she'd think - because this was her boyfriend at the time.

       "But I didn't want it to go any further, or know what he'd do, so I told her. I was really upset."

       Sarah added: "Ben had been laying next to me texting my own schoolgirl daughter and asking for sexy photographs.

       "He'd tried to bribe her... It was one of the worst moments of my life. Chloe was hysterical. Her heart was breaking and my heart was breaking for her."

       Gleeson was arrested the following morning after hiding at his brother's house.

       'Monster in my bed' 6

       Sarah said red flags had started to appear six months into her relationship with Gleeson Credit: WNS

       During his trial, Judge Rhys Rowlands said: "I can't ignore the way you have tried to play the system; entering not guilty pleas, changing your mind at the last moment and thereafter blaming your solicitor and saying you weren't guilty, all of which shows precious little remorse on your part."

       The Judge added that Gleeson's crimes were too serious for anything other than an immediate custodial sentence, jailing him for ten months.

       Sarah said: "I will never forgive Ben. He was a monster in my bed and I had no idea.

       "He's now in jail and that's exactly where he deserves to be. I hope he takes the time to sit and think about what he did and realise how disgusting he is.

       I will never forgive Ben. He was a monster in my bed and I had no idea. He's now in jail and that's exactly where he deserves to be

       Sarah Anstee

       "This was such a breach of trust. He was someone who came into my home, claimed to love and want to protect us.

       "He did the complete opposite. It was the ultimate betrayal. He was someone my daughter looked up to.

       "I shudder sometimes and I ask myself every day - did I miss any red flags? With counselling I am learning that it wasn't my fault.

       "Ben Gleeson is a skilled liar. A man who is rotten to the core.

       "I want to warn other mums and dads - keep any eye on your children's social media. There are some wicked people out there. Our children deserve to grow up happy and safe."

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       Chloe and her mum Sarah have warned parents to keep an eye on their children's social media Credit: WNS

       Chloe said she pursued justice so she could help other people look out for danger signs of grooming, and so victims know they're not alone.

       Chloe, who also attended counselling following the incident, added: "It knocked me in every way possible with my mental health and my confidence.

       "I was scared to go out, and I don't want to say everyone's the same, but I got really scared about being around men mainly.

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       "I really don't want anyone else to go through what I did. It was really hard to deal with.

       "If people get offered help, I'd tell them to take it and not to turn it down straight away."

       AT RISK: The signs a child is being sexually exploited

       Young people often don't understand they are being exploited, making it all the more important for adults to be on their guard.

       Others may be too scared to say something to police or their parents.

       Here are the signs a child might be being sexually exploited:

       Unexplained gifts Expensive belongings - clothes or mobile phones, for example - and habits such as alcohol and drugs which cost money the child is not likely to have access to Drug or alcohol abuse Going missing, running away or homelessness Being absent and truanting from school or showing signs of disengagement or considerable change in performance Unexplained changes in behaviour, temperament or personality (e.g. chaotic, aggressive, sexual, mood swings) Inappropriate sexual behaviour/over familiar with strangers or sending sexualised images via the internet or mobile phones Association with older people, anti-social groups and other vulnerable peers Being involved in abusive relationships, feeling intimidated and fearful of certain people or situations Self-harming, demonstrating suicidal thoughts and tendencies, overdosing on substances or eating disorders