A former soldier who served in Iraq has been jailed for grooming offences after being caught in a paedophile hunter group's sting operation.
Craig Tew, 42, of Dodds Court, Shotton, Flintshire, was trapped by the group after he mistakenly thought he was grooming a 13-year-old girl online.
The HGV driver, who served a tour of Iraq as part of the Territorial Army in 2004, was in fact speaking with groups Darklight and Justice for Kids, who try to catch paedophiles online by posing as children.
Tew, who was arrested in Springfield Park, Rochdale, on October 28 last year after travelling from Flintshire to meet the fictitious 13 year-old "Amelie", was sentenced to 27 months in prison by Judge Timothy Petts. His communications with her had lasted 24 days.
On searching his car after his arrest, police found Viagra and condoms. In his police statement, Tew claimed the condoms were out of date and he didn't know why he had Viagra with him.
He admitted nine counts, including sexual communication with a child, causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity including showing her breasts and penetration, and two offences of attempting to meet a girl under 16 years of age following grooming.
Tew posed as a soldier in his 20s and promised to shower "Amelie" with gifts, including a Pandora bracelet, if she sent him a picture of her breasts.
Judge Petts said: "Over 24 days, you repeatedly made communications with a girl you knew to be sexually inexperienced.
"It was clear from your communications you were worried about getting into trouble. You attempted to act out your perverted fantasies on October 28.
"It's of serious concern that you came to that meeting with Viagra medication and condoms in your car. It's clear penetration was intended.
"Only immediate custody is appropriate."
The court heard Tew had been praised for his service in Iraq by his superior officers.
His counsel Anthony Morris called him "a loner".
He added: "He still talks like he was talking to a real girl and felt sorry for her.
"His assessment of situations is not as most of us would accept."
During Tew's interaction with "Amelie", he repeatedly asked about her breasts, seeking pictures from her, despite her saying she was inexperienced and hadn't kissed a boy before.
On one occasion, he asked her for a wet T-shirt picture, before going on to describe what she should do when she said she didn't understand what he meant.
Detective constable Alison Lee, of North wales Police, said: "Craig Tew is a dangerous individual with a clear sexual interest in children.
"North Wales Police will leave no stone unturned in investigating such individuals to bring them to justice and safeguard vulnerable people within our communities.
"If any members of the public have any concerns then I would strongly encourage them to come forward and contact the police so we can support victims while investigating and bringing offenders to justice."
Paedophile caught in live online confrontation with 'hunters' locked up
In addition to jailing Tew for two years and three months, Judge Petts ordered him to be put on the sexual offences register for 10 years, with a sexual harm prevention order imposed for the same amount of time.
Part of that order was that he not approach any child under the age of 16.
