A 71-year-old retired soldier has been jailed for four years after posing as a youngster on Facebook to trap a child.

Perverted pensioner George Giltrap exchanged sex messages with the victim, whilst claiming to be a female teenager after drinking three bottles of wine a day.

After police were called, the forensic trail led to the home of Giltrap in Station Road, Lyminge.

Judge James O'Mahony jailed the ex-soldier, telling him he had done an “evil thing”.

The judge said Giltrap, who now cut "a lonely sad figure", had shown “meticulous and devious” planning.

Prosecutor Kieran Brand said that when officers confronted him he told them: “Yes, when I had a drink I went on to Facebook. When I am sober, it’s different. I have now cancelled the [Facebook] account.”

He said Giltrap had contacted his victim pretending to be a 16-year-old and sent the shocked child an image of a sex toy.

That was followed by disgusting messages detailing Giltrap’s sick perversions and desires.

Canterbury Crown Court heard that Giltrap claimed he thought the victim was older – but realised she was younger when he received a photograph.

He claimed to have opened the Facebook account after buying a sex doll and intending to buy clothes.

Giltrap had pleaded guilty to inciting a child to send him explicit images of herself online earlier this year and three other sex offences, including possessing an illegal image of a child.

The judge said that although Giltrap had served his country in the past, the offences demanded an immediate jail sentence.

An NSPCC spokesman said: “By posing as a 16 year old girl, Giltrap lured his very young victims into sending him sexual images of themselves using the anonymity of the internet.

“We hope his victims been given the support they need to overcome their experiences and move forward with their lives.

“This case reminds us how important it is for parents and carers to talk to their children about staying safe online. Having regular conversations about what your child is doing online - just like you would their day at school - is the best way to keep them safe.”