A paedophile who planned to travel to America and pay $700 to sexually abuse a child has been jailed for more than seven years.

Mark Lumley, a former Gravesend resident, committed multiple online sexual offences after contacting children aged between 14 and 16.

The crimes took place between July 2020 and October 2021.

Police were notified of Lumley’s offending and a search warrant was executed at his home address.

Officers seized a mobile phone containing photos and videos, as well as chat logs from social media sites.

Lumley had been having obscene conversations with several teenagers who he believed were aged between 14 and 16.

He had also liaised with another person and discussed plans to travel to the United States where he would pay $700 to sexually assault a child.

Lumley was arrested and taken into custody and was later charged with offences including sexual exploitation of a child, making indecent photographs of children and causing a female over 13 to engage in sexual activity.

The 56-year-old, now of Manor Road North, Hinchley Wood, Surrey, was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on Thursday(March 30) after pleading guilty to 20 child sex offences.

He was jailed for seven-and-a-half years with a four-year extended licence, which he will complete upon his release.

A sexual harm prevention order was also imposed and Lumley was added to the sex offenders' register for life.

DC Michelle James said: "Lumley specifically targeted vulnerable young girls online and instigated obscene conversations for his own sexual gratification.

"His behaviour will leave a lasting psychological impact on the victims and he belongs in jail.

"Our investigators will continue to track down those who seek to abuse young victims while remaining anonymous online.

"This sentence proves they have no hiding place and will undoubtedly be brought to justice."