Winnipeg man charged with luring after explicit photos sent to 12-year-old girl

A 33-year-old Winnipeg man has been charged with luring after sexually explicit messages and photos were sent to a 12-year-old girl over a three-month period.

Police say the girl was allegedly enticed into "sexually explicit conversations" that included pictures being sent to her cellphone.

Members of the Internet Child Exploitation unit started investigating and obtained messages and photos that the man sent to the girl over a three-month period.

The man turned himself in to police, at the request of investigators, on Thursday. He was released on a promise to appear in court at a later date.

The man has been charged with one count of luring and one count of making sexually explicit material. Police did not release his name.

Const. Rob Carver said it's not clear how the man and girl met, but they had not known each other before the exchange started.

Carver emphasized the importance of parents ensuring their children use social media and mobile devices safely.

"Parents should be attempting to be very aware of what their kids are doing on cellphones and computers. There are dangers in that," he told reporters on Friday.

"Just like we wouldn't allow a stranger into our kids' bedrooms, we shouldn't be allowing strangers into communication with our children."