A CHIRK man who arranged to have sex with an eight-year-old girl has been jailed.

Paul Benjamin Jones, of Bron y Waun, appeared before Mold Crown Court on Monday for sentencing.

The 43-year-old had previously admitted two counts attempting to cause a child to engage in a sexual act and attempting to cause a child to watch a sex act, which took place in 2018.

He had also been found guilty after trial of two offences of arranging the commission of a child sexual offence, which the court heard took place earlier this year - days before he was due to be sentenced for the earlier offences.

Miles Wilson, prosecuting, said in March, June and July of 2018 Jones had sexual conversations online with two individuals he believed to be young girls.

But both were undercover police officers posing as 13-year-old females.

He asked both of the 'girls' numerous questions of a sexual nature, as well as sending an explicit picture to one.

In the more recent case, the court heard, while on bail after admitting the earlier sexual communications he contacted what he understood to be the parents of a two-year-old child and an eight-year-old child on social media.

He arranged to meet the eight-year-old "for sex in what would have been a group activity involving the parents."

He even asked to hear the voices of the children in one of the communications, but regarding both instances of arranged meetings he "backed out" and didn't go through with them.

Elizabeth Power, defending, said: "Clearly this is an escalation of behaviour.

"He didn't carry out his desires, he did back out on each occasion.

"There's no evidence to suggest he embarked on going to an address to meet these people."

Judge Niclas Parry told Jones: "You were within days of being sentenced for the first offences when you embarked on far more serious conduct.

"You communicated, repugnantly, with what you thought were parents.

"I had the benefit of listening to you during your trial and I found you to be an intelligent and calculated man.

"You are prepared to deceive those who would be supporting your rehabilitation. "Mercifully there were no child victims.

"No activity took place because you desisted."

Judge Parry jailed Jones for six years and made him subject to a sexual harm prevention order.