A paedophile has been described as ‘a danger to children’ after he sent sexual messages to an undercover officer, believing he was communicating with a 12-year-old girl.

Michael Richardson, 49, was jailed for seven years after admitting a string of offences.

Richardson was arrested at his home in Money Bank, Wisbech, on 28 March. His phone was found to contain 48 indecent images of children.

Richardson was jailed at Cambridge Crown Court, having admitted three counts of making indecent images of children, attempting to cause/incite a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity, attempted sexual communication with a child and attempting to cause a child under 13 to watch/look at an image of sexual activity.

He was also handed an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and placed on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely.

DS Julia Boon said: “Richardson is clearly a danger to children, so I’m pleased he’s been brought to justice and given a sentence that reflects the severity of his offences.”