A 51-year-old paedophile has avoided jail after sending explicit images to a 13-year-old girl.

Philip Yeoman contacted the girl online between November 14 and 16 last year and arranged to meet her in Southampton.

But when he arrived at Southampton Central on November 16, Yeoman was arrested and charged the following day. 

Yeoman, of Newport Road, Reading was sentenced at Southampton Crown Court to nine months’ imprisonment suspended for two years.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Al Charnley of South East Regional Organised Crime Unit said: “Yeoman’s actions were completely unacceptable and he has been brought to justice as a result.

“This case demonstrates that if you engage in this sort of conversation online, and look to arrange meetings of this nature, you face being arrested and taken to court, which will have an impact on your life and career, as well as having a huge effect on your family.”

Yeoman must also carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and 35 hours of a rehabilitation activity requirement.

He will be on the sex offenders register for 10 years and is subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for five years.