'Dangerous predator' caught in online sting

A "dangerous predator" who plotted to sexually abuse a five-year-old girl has been jailed.

Jared Lamb, 46, sent explicit messages about how he intended to abuse the child and a series of indecent images to undercover officers posing as the girl's father, South Yorkshire Police said.

He was arrested when he travelled to Sheffield after arranging to meet the girl and her father on 20 July.

Lamb, of Brookwood Way, Chorley, was jailed for five years at Sheffield Crown Court after he admitted arranging the commission of child sex offence and three counts of distributing an indecent photograph of a child.

He was also told he must serve an additional six years on licence and made the subject of an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

Det Con Kayleigh Banks said: “Online chat platforms and sites are often where disturbing crimes like Lamb’s begin, and it is the work of the Internet Sexual Offences Team to ensure that sex offenders are caught and brought to justice before a child comes to harm.

“Their work is naturally carried out behind the scenes but plays a vital role in keeping dangerous predators like Lamb off the streets of South Yorkshire."

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