A DANGEROUS and determined paedophile who attempted to have sex with at least seven young girls has been jailed for four and a half years with a six-year extended licence period.

Malcolm Bellwood, 63, made internet contact with what he believed were children aged between 12 and 15 and urged them to commit acts of penetrative sexual activity on themselves and to take part in depraved acts of bestiality.

Bellwood, of Discovery House, Barkerend Road, Bradford, was labelled a danger to the public, especially little girls, by Judge Jonathan Rose at Bradford Crown Court today.

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Bellwood committed a string of new offences just 28 days after he was sentenced to a three year community order and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, on June 25 last year, for attempting to incite a girl aged 14 to engage in sexual activity.

He was netted by a vigilante group after arranging to meet up with what he thought was the child.

Bellwood pleaded guilty to seven new similar charges when he was brought back to court from prison in November.

He admitted two counts of attempting to incite a girl under 13 to engage in penetrative sexual activity, three offences of attempting to incite a girl under 16 to engage in penetrative sexual activity and attempting sexual communication with a child under 16.

The court heard that Bellwood was of very low intelligence and no real young girls were involved in the offending. He confessed he had been interested in young girls for about 20 years. Bellwood said he contacted the “children” because he felt lonely and isolated.

Judge Rose said the defendant exhibited a “determined and continuing” interest in young children.

In June last year, he was sentenced to a community order for contacting what he believed was a girl over the internet and encouraging her to have sex with a dog.

Days later, he was contacting what he believed were girls aged as young as 12.

He encouraged them to have sex with him and to engage in sexual activity with each other. Bellwood sent a photo of his penis and asked for indecent photos in return.

He was prepared to travel as far as the south of England to have sex with one girl.

Judge Rose revoked the community order and told Bellwood he was to be sentenced for a total of ten offences involving at least seven young girls.

“It was a definite and blatant attempt to have sex with children just weeks after the community order was imposed,” the judge said.

Bellwood, who had been held in custody, had undoubtedly believed they were real children he was in touch with.

Judge Rose said Bellwood could not control or manage his sexual urges and lacked insight into his behaviour. He continued to deny his sexual interest in children.

“You are indeed a dangerous individual,” Judge Rose said.

The sexual harm prevention order stays in place for the rest of Bellwood’s life and he must sign on the sex offender register, also for life.