Man jailed after sending sexual messages to child

A registered sex offender has been jailed after being caught sexually communicating with a 13-year-old child during a monitoring visit by police.

During the routine visit on 20 January, officers from the Kirklees Public Protection Unit (KPPU) found evidence of offending on Ryan Walsh's electronic devices.

The 39-year-old later admitted two counts of sexual communication with a child, two counts of making or possessing indecent images of children, breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and failing to comply with sex offender registry requirements

Walsh, from Huddersfield, was jailed for three years at Leeds Crown Court on Thursday.

PC Richard Thorp from the KPPU said: "Our unit works tirelessly and does its upmost to protect children and vulnerable people from the damage and distress that offenders like Walsh can inflict."

Det Insp Angela Francome said Walsh's "swift" sentencing demonstrated how well inter-agency public protection can work to monitor registered sex offenders.

She said: "Walsh was caught as a result of the monitoring our team and other public protection colleagues carry out on a daily basis across West Yorkshire."

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