A paedophile has been jailed for 20 months after a group carried out a sting and caught him trying to arrange a sex session with an underage girl.

Gloucester Crown Court heard Simeone Kazao, 43, of Barnwood Road, Gloucester was targeted by the Secretly Tackling On-line Predators (STOP) group who created the fictitious 13 year old girl.

Alistair Haggerty, prosecuting, said Kazao made contact with the decoy account and made a friendship request to Billy-Ann Jones on Facebook.

Mr Haggerty said Kazao was told the account holder was only 13 and kept asking to meet up for sex.

The prosecutor said: "The 'girl' reminded Kazao she was only 13 and had not had sex before. His response was to tell her not to worry as he would show her what to do."

Kazao "graphically described his intentions" and tried to video call the girl, sent her explicit pictures of himself as well as a sex act, links to sex websites and his mobile phone number as well as requesting she send private pictures.

"He said he would arrange to get a hotel which they could stay at," said the prosecutor. "He suggested that he would pay for her train fare.

"In total, the conversations between the decoy and Kazao ran to 42 pages of Facebook messenger chat and 50 pages from WhatsApp conversations."

Members of the STOP group went to the Kazao's home and detained him in July, handing over their evidence to police who seized his mobile phone and arrested him.

In interview, Kazao admitted making contact with the decoy and said he always had his suspicions as she sounded a lot older than a 13 year old.

"He accepts the content of the conversations was sexual. He also admitted sending sexual images and arranging to meet the girl," added the prosecutor.

Lloyd Jenkins, defending, said Kazao insists there was encouragement from the decoy girl and that he does not have a sexual interest in children but "does have an interest in teenage girls".

Kazao pleaded guilty to attempting to incite a girl aged 13 to engage in sexual activity and to view an image of sexual activity for the purpose of his sexual gratification.

Judge Michael Cullum told Kazao: "You have no sexual offences in you antecedents - however on this occasion you were seeking to incite a 13-year-old girl to indulge in sexual penetrative activity.

"You indulged in grooming behaviour that included many messages as you tried to develop your opportunity.

"Your victim was decoy. I make no comment about those who choose to engage in that sort of behaviour."

He continued: "Your own behaviour is abhorrent and unlawful. I accept these offences were attempts, as no child would have ever been hurt in these particular circumstances.

"I will not be suspending the sentence because of your previous history of failing to comply with court orders."

Kazao was sentenced to 20 months jail and subjected to a five-year sexual harm prevention order and an order to sign the sex offenders' register for the next 10 years. He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge.