AN ENGINEER has been jailed for seven years after he admitted causing a child to engage in a sexual act.

Andrew Paul Baugh, of Gresford Road in Llay, appeared at Mold Crown Court on Tuesday for sentencing.

Baugh, 41, had previously admitted a number of offences relating to making and distributing indecent images of children, causing a child to engage in a sexual act and voyeurism.

The court heard how last year police arrested him at his home address, then in the Flintshire area, after he came to the attention of police.

Officers had received information about him engaging in online communications about raping a child, which caused urgent action.

When he was taken into custody, he told police "I know why you're here."

His devices were taken and examined.

They were found to contain hundreds of images of children which were placed across categories a, b and c.

More than 150,000 files which were also found were not categorised due to their volume but the court heard a "significant number" of them were suggestive of child sexual abuse.

Police also found evidence that he had made voyeuristic recordings and had also caused a child to engage in a sexual act.

Oliver King, defending, said: "These are deeply unpleasant offences and the defendant is entirely realistic about the sentence he is going to receive today.

"He has always worked and has held down a job as an engineer for the last 15 years.

"He wants me to convey his remorse to the court - he is deeply ashamed of what he has done.

"His reputation is in tatters, he is going to lose his job and he is going to be closely monitored for the rest of his life."

Judge Nicola Jones told Baugh: "All in all, these matters were extremely disturbing and depraved.

"I commend North Wales Police for intervening immediately before your actions were able to escalate."

The Judge handed him a total sentence of seven years and made him the subject of an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

He was also made subject to notification requirements for an indefinite period.