A MONMOUTH man has received a three-and-a-half-year sentence in prison after sending indecent images on the messenger service ‘Kik', to an undercover police officer who he thought was a young girl named Maisie.

The decoy told the defendant she was 13-years-old but he continued chatting to her.

Mark Appleby, 53, of Cornwallis Way, was found guilty after trial of engaging in sexual communication with a child, causing or inciting a child to look at sexual activity and attempt to facilitate or commission a child sex offence.

He appeared at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday 1 August in relation to offences committed in November of last year.

The court heard that Appleby sent sexually explicit images to 'Maisie' and told her he wanted to have oral sex with her. 

He went on to ask Maisie about her privates and wanted to spend the night with her in a hotel. The defendant also told her he would bring a sex toy, and spoke to her on the phone, which involved an undercover officer pretending to be a 13-year-old.Detective Constable Chloe Collins, the officer in the case, said: “This sentence shows the severity of this defendant’s actions, even though they were committed online.

“Digitally-committed offences, like these, can have a devastating impact and perpetuates a demand for placing vulnerable people, such as young children, at risk of sexual violence or exploitation.

Appleby received a sentence of three years and six months in prison and will remain on the sexual offenders register indefinitely.

He will also be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for a period of eight years.