A FATHER broke down in tears after he was given a suspended jail sentence for child sex offences.

Andrew Bewell, 50, let out a huge sigh of relief at Bradford Crown Court when Judge Colin Burn told him his two year prison sentence would be put on hold for 24 months.

The court heard how Bewell, of Leeds, was arrested in November 2017 after he was caught speaking to a man on social media offering his 16-year-old daughter for sex.

Unbeknown to Bewell the man was in fact a police officer from East Midlands Police involved in an undercover operation to snare paedophiles and the 16-year-old did not exist.

He pleaded guilty to seven counts, including three counts of attempting to incite a child under 13 to engage in penetrative sexual activity.

Abigail Langford, for the Crown, said Bewell was caught red-handed asking if he could have sex with the teenager at the other man's home.

Richard Wright QC, defending, said Bewell had worked with two child protection charities since his arrest and said Bewell has already been "significantly punished" by his offending because his marriage was over and access to his children was restricted.

He was also ordered to pay £250 costs, carry out 180 hours unpaid work and take part in a 31 day group work requirement.