A 55-YEAR-OLD man has been given a three-year community order for grooming a Blackburn youngster on the internet.

Philip Jenkins appeared at Preston Crown Court today after pleading guilty to two charges of trying to arrange and facilitate sexual activity with an 11-year-old girl.

The court heard that Jenkins first met the primary school pupil on an adult dating website in March, this year.

Judge Christopher Cornwall said: “Both you and the victim met on a website.

“In the first instance it is true that she represented herself as 28 and what two consenting adults do between them is no business of the criminal courts.

“But in that first exchange she did actually tell you that she was 11 and not 28.

“And you established contact even though you are 55 – five times older than she is.”

Jenkins continued to speak to the youngster.

And they went on to exchange details before beginning to chat with each other on the MSN instant messenger website.

The court heard that Jenkins and the youngster exchanged a number of 'explicit' messages over a two week period earlier this year.

Jenkins, from Gilhouse Avenue, Preston, then arranged a meeting with the youngster on April 1 in Eclipse Road, Blackburn.

The court heard that one of the youngster's friends became concerned about the exchanges and informed her parents and the meeting then did not take place.

Police were then contacted and, while the girl’s phone was in possession of an officer, Jenkins sent a video of himself performing a sex act, the court heard.

Judge Cornwall spoke of the victim expressing her fear of being kidnapped by Jenkins if they were to meet.

“It is fortunate that one of the youngster's friends had the good sense to inform her mother and the victim's mother brought an end to this whole disgraceful episode that could have ended much worse.”

Jenkins was given a three-year supervision order and placed on the sex offenders' register.

The Lancashire Telegraph’s Keep Them Safe Campaign aims to raise awareness of underage girls being groomed for sex.

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