A JUDGE has praised a ‘savvy’ mother who snared an internet predator after he asked to meet her daughter for sex, even though he knew she was only 15.

Gary Plant, 28, sent the teenager a private message on Facebook telling her he was ‘Gary from Colne’ and that he thought she was ‘gorgeous’, a court heard.

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But the judge heard how the girl told her mother straight away about what was happening and together they got the information they needed from Plant for the police to prosecute him.

The defendant, of Beech Street, Padiham, admitted arranging the commission of a child sex offence. He was jailed for 32 months.

Nicholas Courtney, prosecuting at Burnley Crown Court, said among the messages Plant sent were ones asking if the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was single and if she ‘fancied a drink sometime’.

The prosecutor said: “She responded saying that she was only 15, to which the defendant said ‘I am okay with it, it’s up to you’.

“By that stage the girl had made her mum aware of the conversation and her mum was then sat next to her prompting her questions and answers.”

The defendant, who was 27 at the time, was asked to give his address and a photograph. He was also asked how old he was, to which he replied 21 and then 25. Mr Courtney added: “When the girl then asked ‘how can I have a drink, I am only 15’, he replied ‘I know, but you look gorgeous, you can have it at mine’.

“When she asked if anybody else would be there, he responded that they would be alone and that they could just chill and chat or have some fun.”

Jeremy Lasker, defending, said his client had admitted lying about his age. He said: “There is no evidence that this young lady on Facebook was targeted because of her age. If she was approached for any reason at all, it is because of her good looks.

“There is no suggestion that she looked to be a girl under the age of consent.”

Judge Jonathan Gibson said Plant was arrested because of the ‘prompt action’ of the girl’s ‘savvy’ mother. He told the defendant: “This, of course, is behaviour that a parent dreads and to which young teenagers are highly vulnerable.

“The girl has to be commended for speaking to her mother straight away and the mother also for getting the girl to ask questions which led to your identification and apprehension.”

Plant was also made subject to a sexual offences prevention order for five years and has been barred from working with children.