A Bournemouth man has been jailed for four years after attempting to arrange a sexual encounter with a child.

David Merrick Taylor, 48, was caught in an undercover police sting after engaging in online conversations with an officer posing as a single mother with two daughters, aged eight and 11.

Taylor sent explicit messages detailing his intentions and arranged a meeting at Bournemouth Pier in January.

Upon his arrival, officers arrested Taylor and found a rucksack containing lubricant, condoms, and sweets.

Taylor, who has autism and Asperger's, pleaded guilty to attempting to arrange or facilitate sexual activity with a child at Poole Magistrates' Court.

The court heard that Taylor was already subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) issued following a similar offense in 2017.

Prosecutor Richard Sedgwick highlighted the seriousness of the offense, emphasizing that Taylor had engaged in sexually explicit conversations with the undercover officer within just three days of their first contact.

Judge Brian Forster QC described the case as "particularly serious," emphasizing the defendant's history of similar offenses and his violation of the existing SHPO.

Taylor was sentenced to four years in prison, placed on the sex offenders' register indefinitely, and will be subject to a new SHPO.