A 'MANIPULATIVE' man who made indecent images of children and groomed girls under 16 has been jailed.

William Nodes, 35, of Cardiff Road, Reading, was jailed for six years, with a further five years on licence at Reading Crown Court on Friday, January 24.

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He pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to incite a girl of 13 to engage in sexual activity; one count of attempting to meet a girl under 16 following grooming; three counts of making indecent images of children and two counts of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Nodes was also subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention order, to which a new order with additional prohibitions was put in place indefinitely as part of the sentencing.

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Public Protection Officer Heather Bainbridge, of the Public Protection Unit, said: "William Nodes has shown a great disregard for his prohibitions within his sexual harm prevention order.

"He is an extremely manipulative and deceptive individual, who in December 2019 was awaiting sentence for the three counts of making indecent images of children and one breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order after being in contact with a child under 16 via the internet.

"Nodes was aware he would likely receive custody for these offences, but despite this went onto target and attempt to harm another child."

Detective constable Conor Hatton, of Force CID in Reading, said: "William Nodes poses a real threat to children and I am pleased that he will face a significant period in jail with a further number of years on licence.

"On sentencing Nodes, the judge commented that the public needed protecting from Nodes, who committed these offences in December 2019.

"He was engaging with individuals that he thought were children online, exchanging explicit photo’s, inciting the child to engage in sexual activity and arranging to meet her.

"His activity was reported to police by members of the public, and he was quickly arrested, charged and brought before the courts.

"If members of the public suspect a child is being groomed, exploited or abused, then please contact Thames Valley Police via our website or by calling 101 in a non-emergency, or 999 in an emergency."