Police have warned youngsters to be on their guard after a VAT officer was jailed for a sex attack on a 15-year-old schoolboy.

Douglas Creak, of Conway Avenue, Great Wakering, was sentenced to 18 months in prison after he admitted committing a serious sexual offence against the boy.

The 44-year-old married man pleaded guilty when he appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday.

He met the teenager in a gay chat room on the internet. They boy told Creak he was 18 but then admitted he was three years younger.

The pair met at a Liverpool city centre hotel on June 23.

After treating the Merseyside boy to a meal, they went to Creak's room where the offence was committed with the boy's consent.

While they were there the boy's father arrived after finding out about the liaison. He punched Creak in the face and took the boy home.

Creak was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years after his release from prison.

An indecent assault charge was allowed to lie on the file.

Judge Ann Downey said: "The court accepts the boy took part in the act in the hotel room without pressure or force from you.

"At the hotel you had a meal with the boy and had plenty of opportunity to rescind from what you had planned. Instead you went through with it. Therein lies the seriousness of it."

Police today urged youngsters to be careful when talking to people over the internet.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: "There have been cases across the country where people have ended up in difficult situations or victims of crime as a result of meeting people over the internet.

"If you are going to meet someone then you should always keep to a public place and if at all possible take a chaperone."

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