A SEXUAL predator has been jailed for two years, after trying to pressure a schoolgirl into performing sex acts online.

Lee Bateman, 23, from Barry, began messaging the 11-year-old girl through Instagram and requested she send him inappropriate and explicit photographs of herself, as well as attempting to persuade her to carry out an indecent act.

The former Cash Generator employee was caught out when a police officer set up an account pretending to be a young girl and got in contact with him.

Prosecutor Matthew Cobb said that Bateman told the young girl that his name was Josh and that he was 16.

Cardiff Crown Court heard that the girl told a school friend what had happened, who then notified their teacher. Once the information was fed back to the girl's family, they alerted the police.

An officer then posed as a young girl online to try and catch Bateman.

Mr Cobb added: “The police officer contacted him and he adopted a similar tone.”

Once Bateman had been traced by police, he was then arrested.

Bateman admitted two counts of inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity, and attempting to incite a girl to engage in sexual activity.

He was jailed for two years and must sign a sexual harm prevention order.

Recorder Martin Powell QC told Bateman he had "an unhealthy interest in pubescent children."