A "dangerous" convicted sex offender was jailed after he exchanged explicit messages with what he believed to be a 12-year-old girl online. The girl turned out to be an undercover police officer.

Connor Smith, 43, of Eastfield Road, Market Weighton, admitted attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity between July and August. This conviction comes after Smith was previously jailed for seven years in 2018 at Hull Crown Court for two offences of sexual activity with a child.

During his previous sentence, Smith befriended and formed a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl, engaging in sexual acts with her on numerous occasions when she should have been at school. Despite serving a significant portion of his sentence and being released on licence twice, Smith continued to pose a risk to children.

Following his release, Smith began communicating with what he believed to be a 12-year-old girl online. Judge Alexander Menary stated that Smith's actions demonstrated a concerning interest in children and that he had not acknowledged this issue. The probation service assessed him as posing a serious risk of harm to children through further offences.

Smith's lawyer, Billy Torbett, acknowledged the gravity of his client's behaviour, stating that Smith was ashamed and remorseful for his actions. Despite pleading guilty at an early stage, Smith received a four-year prison sentence, deemed a "dangerous" offender by the court. Upon release, he will be subject to an extended licence of five years, must register as a sex offender for life, and remain under the indefinite sexual harm prevention order.