A STOURBRIDGE pervert who sent sexually explicit messages to two schoolgirls aged ten and 14 and invited them to send him nude photographs of themselves has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Judge John Wait at Wolverhampton Crown Court told 53-year-old Garry Wainwright he had caused real harm to the younger victim because he had encouraged her to engage in sexual activity.

The judge said: "This was wholly inappropriate. You were causing this child to become corrupted. This was not on one occasion - it was protracted."

He said Wainwright had contacted the girl on Facebook to explore whether she was prepared to talk openly to him before introducing sex into the conversation after gaining her confidence.

It was then he made requests for the sexual images while graphically describing the sexual activity in which he wanted her to participate.

The judge said Wainwright also asked the vulnerable 14-year-old to send him indecent messages having earlier carried out a sexual assault on the schoolgirl.

Wainwright of Cherry Tree Court, Wollescote, admitted one charge of sexual assault and five of causing or inciting sexual activity with a child.

He was further told by the judge he must register as a Sex Offender for the rest of his life while also being made the subject of an indeterminate Sexual Offenders Protection Order.

Christopher Rodwell, defending Wainwright - who was also banned from ever working with children, maintained his requests to the ten-year-old girl had been a "fantasy" and it was never his intention to meet the child.

He told the court that as the "excitement built" Wainwright "got carried away" at a time when he was in a low mood and suffering from depression.

Mr Rodwell added: "He was leading a relatively lonely existence. He is full of remorse for what he did and he is coming to terms with his offending behaviour. That is encouraging because it reduces the risk he poses."

Jennifer Josephs, prosecuting, said Wainwright knew the age of the younger girl because she told him she was ten. He adopted the role of a confidant before sending inappropriate messages and asking for the photographs.

He was finally rumbled when the child's shocked mother saw the messages and she quickly contacted police with Wainwright at first denying what he had done because it was, he stressed, disgusting.