A sexual predator who attempted to meet teenage girls online and offer money to commit sex offences has been jailed.

Alexander Budd, 41, was arrested after he arranged to meet with whom he thought was a 14-year-old girl in June 2021.

Budd, of Westway Court, Fulwood, Preston, had been messaging a decoy profile used by a paedophile hunter group.

The group informed a member of another paedophile hunter group, based in Fleetwood, about the planned meeting.

A member then confronted Budd outside a convenience store in Garstang Road, Preston, where the meeting was due to take place. Police attended and arrested Budd at the scene.

Further enquiries found the 41-year-old had been messaging decoy profiles for two teenage girls.

He arranged to meet one 14-year-old girl in Ipswich on June 5, 2021, having offered £200 for sexual purposes, but the meeting did not take place.

Budd had also exchanged in sexual communications with a second decoy account – the girl he was due to meet in Garstang Road. This meeting was due to take place a day later on June 6.

Officers searched Budd’s address and seized his mobile phone. As well as conversations with the decoys, detectives found between April 2020 to May 2021 Budd had arranged with a male to have sex with 14 and 15-year-old children for the fee of £400, with an arrangement made for Budd to meet with an underage teenager on August 8 but it is unknown whether these meetings took place.

Budd was charged with engaging in sexual communication with a child, arranging the commission of a child sexual offence and meeting a child following grooming.

He pleaded guilty at court and was given a six year prison sentence. Budd was also handed a 10 year sexual harm prevention order.

Det Con Stephen Rotherham, of the Rape Investigations Team, South Division, Lancashire Police, said: “Budd is a dangerous man who had showed a persistent and depraved desire to have sex with children.

“The evidence gathered confirmed his intent and willingness to pay significant sums of money to commit his offending.

“This investigation highlights our commitment to preventing and detecting sexual offending. We will do everything possible to trace those responsible and take action against them.

“We would like to offer reassurance any reports of sexual offences, old or new, will be dealt with sensitively, thoroughly and professionally, with the interests of the victims and their families being our priority.

“We welcome the sentence handed down by Judge Parry and it should serve as a warning to others wanting to commit such crimes.”

Budd was sentenced to six years in prison at Preston Crown Court on Friday (December 16).