A 52-YEAR-OLD man was jailed after stating he was ‘up for’ paying to have sex with a girl aged just 11.

David Heesom, of Sankey Street in the town centre, believed he had been chatting online to her father, but this was actually an undercover police officer.

And after his arrest and the confiscation of his laptop, he was also discovered to be in possession of eight indecent images and videos of children.

In a statement read by Nardeen Nemat, prosecuting at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday, it was revealed that between September and October 2017, Heesom was keen to meet up with the girl after discussing the matter with an undercover officer.

He was purporting to be a father of two daughters, one 11 and another of 18 months.

After viewing a selfie of the 11-year-old in a school uniform, Heesom asked how far she had gone and what the ‘rate’ was.

The 52-year-old was told she would cost £200 per hour, to which he replied: “Lol, I’d be up for that.”

He then went on to explain in graphic detail what he would do to her and asked whether he could keep her overnight.

When he was told that she would need to be drugged for that to happen, he replied: “Lol ok, would love to make it a regular thing.”

After being arrested by police who seized his laptop and phone, he was discovered to have eight indecent images and videos of children – three of category A (the highest) and 5 of category C.

The court also heard Heesom has one previous conviction in 1995 for the indecent assault of a female aged under 15.

Jeremy Rawson, in mitigation, said: “He has shown remorse and regret for his actions and has sought help from the Lucy Faithfull Foundation to overcome his problems, which he is keen to do.”

Recorder David Swinnerton said: “You believed you were chatting to facilitate sexual activities with a girl aged 11, but this was in fact an undercover police officer.

“You stated you would love to meet up with her for your own satisfaction and said in graphic and explicit detail what you would do to her, including her spending the night while drugged at your house.

“Although you could not carry this out in real life as the child did not exist, the matter is serious and there is a need for a deterrent by way of immediate custody.”

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Heesom was sentenced to two years immediate imprisonment, ordered to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years and handed a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years.