A Kent Police IT employee who pretended to be a teenager to sexually groom young girls on the internet has been jailed for five years.

Darren Scott spent hours contacting victims using video messaging to persuade them to expose themselves to him.

When finally discovered, the 50-year-old, of Chestnut Lane, Kingsnorth, tried to blame others in his family.

“It frankly shows a pathetic lack of gumption on your part to accept responsibility,” a judge told him today.

“These were grubby offences carried out in your own home, usually in the middle of the night for your own sexual gratification.

“But your offending has victims. These were children. You exploited them for your own needs or desires. You didn’t care a jot how young them were.”

Scott denied three offences of attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity, four of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, one of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and four of making indecent photos of a child, but was convicted.

Using the name “boxers.andt.shirt”, he contacted girls aged 12 to 14 on Skype in 2015 and 2016 while claiming he was aged 17.

Recorder Gareth Branston said he would not go into great detail about the graphic conversations. “This court has frankly heard enough,” he added.

He engaged one 12-year-old in explicit conversations and encouraged her to show her breasts on a video camera on Skype and told her what he wanted to do to her.

One girl, aged 13, in the United States was vulnerable, being recently bereaved and having been abused.

“She was looking for someone to talk to,” said Recorder Branston. “Unfortunately, she found you and you exploited her vulnerability for your own sexual gratification.

Scott also persuaded girls to send him pictures. One was topless and another was completely naked.

Robert Morgan-Jones, defending, said there was no evidence of “contact offending”, or any attempt to arrange direct physical contact.

“His chat exchange is creepy, but there was no attempt to arrange a direct meeting,” he said.

Scott’s wife and two daughters watched from the public gallery as Mr Morgan-Jones added: “I ask you to take into account the high price his family will pay. His family will pick up the tab for the costs of this case.”

Scott’s name will appear on the sex offenders’ register and a sexual harm prevention order was made, both indefinitely. He will be barred from working with children and vulnerable adults.

Detective Chief Inspector Keith Roberts said: “Scott had spent hours over a two-year period preying on young females for his own gratification and never accepted any responsibility.

“He clearly poses a risk to children and the graphic detail he included in his messages was hugely concerning.

“We will use the full extent of our technical and legal capabilities to investigate people who think it is acceptable to abuse innocent children and put offenders before the courts.

“This also serves as a timely reminder that all parents, grandparents and carers need to be aware of what their children are doing online, which includes tablets and smart phones. The internet is a wonderful tool but one that comes with its own set of dangers that everyone needs to be mindful of.”

Scott was suspended by Kent Police after his arrest. The Professional Standards Department will continue an internal conduct investigation.Kent Police IT worker Darren Scott jailed after pretending to be 16-year-old to talk to young girls online

Detective chief inspector Keith Roberts said: “Scott had spent hours over a two year period preying on young females for his own gratification and never accepted any responsibility.

“He clearly poses a risk to children and the graphic detail he included in his messages was hugely concerning.

“We will use the full extent of our technical and legal capabilities to investigate people who think it is acceptable to abuse innocent children and put offenders before the courts.

“This also serves as a timely reminder that all parents, grandparents and carers need to be aware of what their children are doing online, which includes tablets and smartphones.

"The internet is a wonderful tool but one that comes with its own set of dangers that everyone needs to be mindful of.”

Now that judicial proceedings have concluded officers from the Professional Standards Department will continue an internal conduct investigation.