A sex offender who groomed a child has been jailed for six years for offences dating back to when the victim was 12 years old.
Thomas Freret, 39, pleaded guilty at Preston Crown Court to sexual communication with a child, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and breach of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order.
The offences happened to a child in Lancaster.
Freret groomed the victim from Spain for sexualised chats, pictures and videos and told the victim to delete the messages in a bid to cover his tracks.
Enquiries found that Freret, who lived at an address in Elche, Spain, until his arrest on November 10 2024, had been issued with a Sexual Offences Prevention Order in 2013.
This banned him from using the internet to contact or attempt to contact any child known or believed to be under the age of 16, which this latest offending put him in breach of.
During yesterday’s sentencing hearing, Freret was also put on the Sex Offenders Register for life and made subject of a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
“Freret groomed and exploited a vulnerable child for his own sordid sexual interests," said DS John Barton, from Lancashire Police West Internet Child Exploitation Team.
"Despite residing in Spain, officers worked tirelessly to ensure he faced justice back here in Lancashire and now he is behind bars where he belongs.
“Freret is one of a growing number of offenders we’ve put before the courts and I hope this case sends a strong message that our team will continue to relentlessly pursue those who prey on vulnerable young children online.”
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