A MAN who spent months sending suggestive and sexualised messages to a young girl has been jailed.

Steven Tristram, of Pleasant View in Pentre Broughton, appeared for sentence at Mold Crown Court on Wednesday morning.

The 67-year-old had previously admitted engaging in sexual communication with a child.

John Philpotts, prosecuting, told the court that over a number of months, Tristram sent the girl regular messages which became excessively affectionate, inappropriate, flirtatious and at times suggestive.

The child receiving the messages came to realise for herself that the things the defendant was saying were "grossly inappropriate."

When she challenged him on the matter and reminded him of her age, he replied: "I know hun."

Eventually his behaviour was reported to the police and he was arrested, with his phone and laptop being taken.

He admitted he'd sent the messages officers were to recover, but denied he derived any kind of sexual satisfaction from his communications.

Catherine Jagger, defending, told the court despite her client having past convictions for unlike offences, had not had any convictions at all for the last 16 years.

She said: "He appreciates his best piece of mitigation today is his guilty plea.

"He deeply regrets the impact on this [victim] and he has not ignored the realistic prospect of an immediate custodial sentence today; he has brought bags."

READ MORE: Woman carried out 'prolific' Tesco booze thefts to fund heroin habit, court told

Judge Rhys Rowlands told Ms Jagger the defendant had been assessed by two very experienced probation officers and had been found not to be capable of rehabilitation.

He said: "That's a very big problem once the custody threshold has been passed."

Ms Jagger said: "I asked [the defendant] the question specifically to have his words - why do you want probation assistance?

"He said; I think they can help me."

She asked the Judge to consider a suspended sentence, reasoning that should he fail to comply, he could be brought back to court.

Judge Rowlands told the defendant his messages had been "worrying" and there had been a significant disparity in age.

"You were old enough to be her grandfather," he said.

Make sure you don't miss the top court stories of the week by signing up to our free court newsletter

The Leader:

"You were corrupting her, and happy to do so.

"It is clear from the pre-sentence report that you're seeking to minimise your responsibility, and there isn't much by way of genuine remorse or understanding on your part.

"I am driven to the view that it must be an immediate custodial sentence."

Tristram was sentenced to 32 weeks in prison and was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order, as well as being on the sex offenders register, for the next ten years.