A 27-YEAR-OLD paedophile from has been jailed for grooming a young girl online.

Thomas Lawton, of Bancroft Fold, Barnoldswick is facing more than two years behind bars after admitting targeting the two girls, who were aged just 12 and 14.

Preston Crown Court heard Lawton was arrested by police earlier this year after officers received a report two teenagers had gone missing from an address in Morecambe in the middle of the night.

The prosecution said police attended the scene at around 4.30am on April 30 and later found the two teenage girls in the area.

During an investigation, the court was told detectives discovered Lawton had befriend the 14-year-old girl online and was regularly sending her messages.

He drove from Barnoldswick to Morecambe, collecting the teenager and the 12-year-old before taking them to the Carnforth area in his car.

The court heard when they stopped he offered the girls cocaine and planned to engage in sexual activity with the 14-year-old girl.

However, the girls demanded to be taken home when they became scared.

The prosecution said Lawton returned the pair near to home before driving away to avoid being seen with them.

Detectives arrested Lawton around an hour after both girls had been reported missing and was charged with grooming and drug offences.

After pleading guilty to offences of grooming and possession of cocaine, Lawton was sentenced to two years and four months behind bars.

He was also given a 10 year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and a 10 year notification requirement.

Temp Det Insp Andy Ellis said: “Lawton is clearly a dangerous and predatory individual and we welcome his imprisonment.

“Lawton started grooming one of the victims online by engaging in sexualised messages.

"He then arranged to meet her, driving to Morecambe in the middle of the night.

“After picking the girl and another teenager up, he offered them both cocaine and planned to engage in sexual activity with the 14-year-old girl.

“The girls, both clearly scared and frightened, demanded to be taken home.

"Thanks to diligent police work Lawton was stopped close by and arrested.

“We welcome his sentencing and hope it serves as a reminder to others wanting to commit such crimes.”