This is Staffordshire --
PARENTS are being warned to be vigilant after a pervert was jailed for trying to arrange sex with a 12-year-old girl on the internet.
Staffordshire Police issued the advice after Stephen Neale was jailed for two years for arranging to meet the schoolgirl in order to have sex with her.
Neale, aged 45, contacted his victim on the internet and sent her his mobile phone number.
He then began sending her messages of a sexual nature, Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard.
Prosecutor David Bennett said: "He told her he wanted her and wanted to feel her. He also told her she was beautiful. He told her not to tell her mother he was in contact with her."
The court heard Neale contacted the girl on the internet on an almost daily basis, usually after she returned home from school.
But matters came to light when the victim's mother discovered the messages.
Mr Bennett added: "She used a mobile phone to take photographs of some of the messages."
Neale, of Albermarle Road, Cross Heath, Newcastle, was arrested on February 4 and answered no comment to all questions in his police interview.
But he pleaded guilty to arranging the commission of a child sex offence between February 2 and February 5 by arranging to meet a child under the age of 13 in order to have sexual intercourse with her.
Stephen Oldham, mitigating, said Neale accepts what he did was 'disgusting'.
He added: "He also accepts this type of offence will have had a significant and lasting effect on the victim and her family.
"He is extremely sorry for what he has done. He is remorseful.
"He has struggled to deal with his motivations for committing this offence. It was a foolish thing to do."
Mr Oldham said Neale was a family man and a good father to his children, but, he will not be able to return home and plans to live outside the area on his release from prison.
He added Neale, who battled cancer in 2004, was diagnosed with the disease again on Wednesday.
Judge David Fletcher said he read every message Neale sent to the schoolgirl.
He told Neale: "It makes extremely disturbing reading. There are some very worrying features of this case.
"You are clearly in the top category having anticipated full sex with this girl when you were in full contact with her."
Neale, who will serve half the sentence, will be on the sex offenders' register for 10 years.
Judge Fletcher added: "This will continue to have an adverse impact on you for the foreseeable future."
A spokesman for Staffordshire Police said: "Sexual exploitation is an extremely serious offence and one we are determined to tackle.
"Children may be targeted because of their vulnerability but any child can be a victim.
"What is apparent is that parents and carers can make that vital difference in whether or not a child becomes a victim of these ruthless predators online.
"We are committed to targeting and investigating suspected offenders to gather evidence against them, put them before the courts and bring them to justice." Reported by This is 15 hours ago.
PARENTS are being warned to be vigilant after a pervert was jailed for trying to arrange sex with a 12-year-old girl on the internet.
Staffordshire Police issued the advice after Stephen Neale was jailed for two years for arranging to meet the schoolgirl in order to have sex with her.
Neale, aged 45, contacted his victim on the internet and sent her his mobile phone number.
He then began sending her messages of a sexual nature, Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard.
Prosecutor David Bennett said: "He told her he wanted her and wanted to feel her. He also told her she was beautiful. He told her not to tell her mother he was in contact with her."
The court heard Neale contacted the girl on the internet on an almost daily basis, usually after she returned home from school.
But matters came to light when the victim's mother discovered the messages.
Mr Bennett added: "She used a mobile phone to take photographs of some of the messages."
Neale, of Albermarle Road, Cross Heath, Newcastle, was arrested on February 4 and answered no comment to all questions in his police interview.
But he pleaded guilty to arranging the commission of a child sex offence between February 2 and February 5 by arranging to meet a child under the age of 13 in order to have sexual intercourse with her.
Stephen Oldham, mitigating, said Neale accepts what he did was 'disgusting'.
He added: "He also accepts this type of offence will have had a significant and lasting effect on the victim and her family.
"He is extremely sorry for what he has done. He is remorseful.
"He has struggled to deal with his motivations for committing this offence. It was a foolish thing to do."
Mr Oldham said Neale was a family man and a good father to his children, but, he will not be able to return home and plans to live outside the area on his release from prison.
He added Neale, who battled cancer in 2004, was diagnosed with the disease again on Wednesday.
Judge David Fletcher said he read every message Neale sent to the schoolgirl.
He told Neale: "It makes extremely disturbing reading. There are some very worrying features of this case.
"You are clearly in the top category having anticipated full sex with this girl when you were in full contact with her."
Neale, who will serve half the sentence, will be on the sex offenders' register for 10 years.
Judge Fletcher added: "This will continue to have an adverse impact on you for the foreseeable future."
A spokesman for Staffordshire Police said: "Sexual exploitation is an extremely serious offence and one we are determined to tackle.
"Children may be targeted because of their vulnerability but any child can be a victim.
"What is apparent is that parents and carers can make that vital difference in whether or not a child becomes a victim of these ruthless predators online.
"We are committed to targeting and investigating suspected offenders to gather evidence against them, put them before the courts and bring them to justice." Reported by This is 15 hours ago.