A PAEDOPHILE with a history of grooming young girls has been branded a significant risk to children.
Simon Biss has been locked up twice before for grooming girls over the internet and then meeting them in person.
The 41-year-old has now been jailed for a third time.
He sent sexual messages via Snapchat to a girl called Emily who he believed was 12-years-old.
The convicted sex offender was actually speaking to a police-operated fake profile.
Prosecution barrister, Tim Moores, said that Biss told her she looked "gorgeous" and asked if she would "date much older men".
Biss even asked: "Can I see pictures of your body?"
Emily responded to his messages and said she was based in Scarborough.
Further messages from Biss, of North Ripley, Bransgore, said "I don't care that you're young," and "I could come to you".
Mr Moores added: "Police officers made enquiries and were able to determine that the profile being used [to speak with Emily] was linked to Mr Biss.
"They knew a fair amount about him and officers attended his address and arrested him."
During an interview, he made no comment when asked about his conversations with Emily.
Appearing before Southampton Crown Court, he was charged with attempting to cause or incite a female child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, engaging in sexual communication with a child, and breaching a sexual harm prevention order.
He pleaded guilty to the offences which happened between September and October 2020.
Biss has two previous matters relating to sexual grooming.
He was jailed for 18 months in 2006 and then again in 2010 for 32 months.
Mitigating, Chris Gaiger said "there is still the prospect of rehabilitation in the community".
He added: "He did stop the conversation and I do stress that is an important factor."
Biss was said to be terrified of going to prison.
Judge Christopher Parker QC said: "You do pose a significant risk of serious harm to young children."
He jailed him for 32 months.
Biss will become eligible for release after serving two-thirds of his sentence.
He will then spend eight years on an extended licence.
Furthermore, he has been made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order until further notice and must register as a sex offender indefinitely.
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