Sussex paedophile who targeted Facebook girls jailed
- Published
A paedophile who used the social networking site Facebook to target young girls has been jailed.
Jonathan Paige, 31, of Worthing, Sussex posed as an 11-year-old girl to ask a 12-year-old explicit sexual questions, Chichester Crown Court heard.
He previously admitted charges of grooming, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and possessing more than 450 indecent images of children.
Paige, of Shelley Road, was jailed for four years and eight months on Friday.
Sussex Police said he was arrested after the mother of a 12-year-old girl reported her concerns about "suspicious activity over the internet".
Officers said Paige, posing as an 11-year-old, contacted his victim on three occasions to ask sexually explicit questions about herself.
Det Sgt Simon Dunn added: "Paige is a predatory paedophile who used the internet and other mediums to seek out vulnerable young girls, attempting to groom them into meeting with him.
"In some cases Paige purported to be an 11-year-old girl; this activity represents some of the most dangerous behaviour imaginable.
"I would like to thank all the members of the public who helped with this investigation.
"Without the vigilance of the parents and their children Paige's offending may not have come to light as quickly as it did."
The force said at the height of his offending he was in touch with more than 50 young girls via Facebook and MSN.