A man has been jailed for attempting to engage with who he believed to be a 14-year-old child in sexual communication.

Peter Davies, aged 46, from Dalton-in-Furness, was sentenced yesterday (4 July) at Preston Crown Court for attempting to cause / incite a child to engage in sexual communication and engaging in sexual communication with a child.

In March of this year, police were contacted by an online child abuse activist group regarding information they had compiled in relation to Davies. This information, and further police enquires, found that Davies had been communicating in a sexual manner with who he believed to be a 14-year-old girl.

Davies admitted the offending when interviewed by police.

Davies was jailed for two years and four months, and also made subject of a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Temporary Detective Sergeant Stewart Glendinning said:

“Peter Davies engaged in online conversations with a person he believed to be a 14-year-old girl. Despite the decoy profile informing Davies of her age, he continued to engage in sexually explicit conversation.

“Fortunately, there was no actual 14-year-old girl but that does not dilute the seriousness of his offending.

“We are committed to ensuring children are safe from those seeking to commit them harm and we will do all we can to ensure those who commit offences are brought before the courts.”