A CONVICTED sex offender was detained by members of Predator Exposure at the Bradford Interchange after he tried to meet up with a 14-year-old girl for sex.

Homeless 36-year-old Matthew Frary had been sending Facebook messages to a “decoy” profile set up by the group and had groomed his intended target by suggesting that they could go bowling together.

Bradford Crown Court heard how Frary, who previously lived in York, claimed he was 20 during the Facebook contacts and arranged to meet up with the “girl” in April despite being told she was only 14.

Prosecutor Camille Morland said Frary failed to turn up at the arranged time, but about four hours later he did arrive at the Interchange where he was detained by group members.

In 2009 Frary was jailed for 18 months at York Crown Court after he admitted sexually assaulting a lone woman who had been waiting for lift home after a night out.

Following that conviction Frary was told he had to register with the police as a sex offender and was also made the subject of a sexual offences prevention order which restricted his contact with children.

The court heard that before his arrest in April, Frary had failed to tell the police that he had been “sofa surfing” at a friend’s house in Bradford even though children were living there.

Miss Morland said the mother of the children did not know about Frary’s conviction and would not have let him into her home if she had.

Frary pleaded guilty to offences of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and breaching the notification requirements of his sex offender registration order.

Barrister Giles Bridge, for Frary, said his client had received an inheritance of £13,000, but it had all been spent in less than two months.

He said Frary and others had used the money to buy drink and drugs.

The court heard that it was at that time when he had contacted the decoy profile on Facebook.

On Monday, the Recorder of Bradford Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC sentenced Frary to a total of 27 months in prison.

He also imposed a new sexual harm prevention order which will last for 10 years.

Meanwhile, Frary must also register as a sex offender with the police for the same period of time.