Man jailed for internet grooming

A man from West Yorkshire who admitted grooming a 14-year-old schoolgirl over the internet has been jailed.

Trevor Irving, of Edgeware Mount, Leeds, was sentenced to two years in prison for meeting the girl at the Trafford Centre in Manchester in March.

Liverpool Crown Court heard the 54-year-old was arrested by police after staff at the shopping centre spotted Irving kissing the victim.

Det Con Jackie Hulme said Irving was a "clear danger to children."

Irving is a menace who has preyed on a young girl Detective Constable Jackie Hulme

The court was told Irving met the girl via an internet chatroom when he tricked his victim into thinking he was a similar age to her.

After the pair arranged to meet Irving picked the teenager up from her home in Astley, Wigan.

Irving also received an eight-month jail sentence for 13 counts of possessing indecent images of children.

Ms Hulme from Greater Manchester Police added: "Irving is a menace who has preyed on a young girl.

"He knew how young she was yet he still arranged to meet her in person.

"This is obviously predatory sexual behaviour."

Irving was ordered to sign the sex offenders' register for life.