Paedophile arrested in Morrisons car park in Leeds after arranging to have sex with 12-year-old 'girl' in undercover police operation

David Collins confessed to police officers that he had made online contact with around 20 girls aged between 12 and 16 before he was caught in the police sting.

Collins was jailed for 33 months at Leeds Crown Court after pleading guilty to six counts of attempting to incite a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity and one of attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming.

The court heard the 34-year-old was arrested as part of a cyber crime operation by Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit.

Collins made contact with a fake profile of a girl purporting to be 12 years old on KiK Messenger.

The defendant told the 'girl' he was aged 26 and asked her to send pictures of herself.

Collins then sent messages of a more sexual nature.

He discussed having sex with the youngster and repeatedly asked to meet up with her.

Collins' partner later found a receipt for the data purchase in his pocket.

Collins made arrangements to meet the girl in the car park of Morrisons, Harehills, on October 16, 2018.

He was instead met by police officers who arrested him from his BMW.

The car was searched and condoms were found in the vehicle's fuse box.

When interviewed Collins admitted arranging to meet a 12-year-old girl but denied any wrongdoing.

He claimed it had been his intention to "expose" girls who were willing to meet men to their parents and the police.

Collins, of Lissett Close, Leconfield, East Yorkshire, told the officers he "wanted to be like a paedophile hunter group in reverse".

The defendant said: "There are a lot of them out there."

Collins said he had not told his partner or anyone else about what he was doing as "it had never crossed his mind."

His mobile phone was searched and it was found he had entered internet search terms for sexual images of girls.

Helen Chapman, mitigating, said Collins pleaded guilty to the offences at an early stage and has no previous convictions.

Sentencing Collins, Judge Simon Phillips QC said: "This child, contrary to your expectation, did not exist.

"You would have endeavoured to complete the offences you had in mind had the child victim existed."

Collins was told he must go on the sex offender register indefinitely.