Portsmouth predator who attempted to groom boys into sex on internet chat rooms is jailed.

Copnor resident Michael Palmieri, 60, was sentenced to 40 months in prison for attempting to seduce young boys online and possessing indecent images of children.

Palmieri, who had previously served time for similar offenses, engaged in conversations with multiple boys between 2010 and 2017, attempting to groom them for sexual activity.

The court heard that Palmieri, despite claiming he was only role-playing and believed he was communicating with adults posing as boys, sent explicit messages to the boys, including comments like "I would love to see you naked" and "that's me daddy."

Police found over 260 indecent images and videos on Palmieri's computer depicting various levels of abuse against children, some showing children tied up and crying.

Prosecutor Natasha Dardashti emphasized the harmful nature of Palmieri's actions, stating that his behavior involved grooming and planning, and that the impact on the victims could be "demeaning and may lead to possible irreparable problems."

Judge William Ashworth condemned Palmieri's actions, highlighting his continued interest in young boys and his failure to understand the severity of his offenses.

In addition to the prison sentence, Palmieri was also issued a sexual harm prevention order.