A MAN who used the internet and social media sites to arrange to meet a child for sex has today been jailed.

Dale Ruff pleaded guilty to nine offences which took place between August 8 and October 5 this year.

Appearing before Leeds Crown Court to be sentenced today, Ruff, 36, from Grove Place, Balby Bridge, Doncaster, was jailed for 14 years.

He was also given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

The offences charged included attempting to communicate sexually with a child, attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming, attempting to incite a child into sexual activity by urging them to send images and attempting to arrange the commission of a child sex offence.

The court heard how Ruff used the internet to engage with the child on social media sites before arranging to meet them in order to commit sexual offences.

However, Ruff hadn’t realised that he was engaging with officers from the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit (YHROCU).

Speaking after the sentencing, Det Chief Inspector Andrew Howard of the YHROCU, said: “Ruff is a sexual predator with a clear sexual interest in children. People like him make the internet a dangerous place for children.

“He will now spend time in prison for the offences he has committed and we will continue to work hard to make the internet a safer place for the people of Yorkshire and the Humber.”

 

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