AN offender who “won’t acknowledge” his perverted interest in children has been jailed after he engaged in a sexually-charged conversation with a police officer posing as a child.

Mark Blower, 30, was also found to have an image depicting the sexual abuse of a child when police seized a device from him.

The offender admitted charges of attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child and possessing an indecent photograph of a child.

He engaged in the conversation with a person he believed to be a boy named “James”, aged under 16.

Appearing at Colchester Magistrates’ Court, Blower, of Brook Street, Colchester, was sentenced to six months imprisonment.

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The court record states magistrates gave him an immediate prison sentence because of his previous convictions, albeit for unrelated offences, and the risk he poses to children.

The record also states he “has a sexual interest in children, but won’t acknowledge it”.

The court was told a pre-sentence report, prepared by the probation service concludes he poses a “high risk” and a “deterrent sentence” is needed.

The record states there is “no realistic prospect in rehabilitation”.

Blower was also made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order, monitoring his use of electronic devices and prohibiting unsupervised contact with children.

He must sign the sex offender’s register for seven years and pay £145 in prosecution costs.