Man jailed over explicit messages to girl, aged 12

A 65-year-old man has been jailed for arranging to meet a girl aged 12 for sex.

Gary Jefferis, from Gloucester, was sentenced to four years at Wolverhampton Crown Court after he admitted sending messages online relating to child sexual activity last November.

West Midlands Police said he used online chat platforms to send explicit messages and asked the age of the girl he was speaking to.

When he was told he was speaking to a 12-year-old, he said that wasn't an issue, going on to arrange a meeting with her at a railway station in the Black Country, officers said.

According to the force, Jefferis had repeatedly asked to meet the girl and sent sexual messages and photos, but when he arrived at Sandwell and Dudley station, he was arrested.

Jefferis told police he had not intended to go through with his plan and that he was not really interested in girls.

However, officers said that the extensive record of messages he had sent showed his intentions.

Jefferis, who was sentenced earlier this month, was also made subject to a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Following sentencing, police advised parents that children could become victims of abuse on the internet through online games, plus social networking sites and apps such as Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat, which were accessible through devices including games consoles.

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