A pervert who planned to have sex with a teenage girl he groomed after meeting on a website used by vulnerable people has been jailed for almost three years.

Kevin King, 22, was said to have "painstakingly" built up a relationship between himself and the 14-year-old by pretending to be a "sympathetic confidante" she could talk to and trust.

Having met the girl on website Recover Your Life, King maintained contact through instant messaging, webcam and mobile phone.

Maidstone Crown Court heard he eventually told her he had fallen for her and, despite her age, could not resist her.

Jailing him for two years and nine months Judge David Griffith-Jones QC said King had preyed on the youngster's vulnerability with the ultimate aim of having sex with her.

King, who has previous convictions for sexual offences, denied meeting a child following sexual grooming but was convicted by a jury.

The court heard he arranged in June 2006 to meet the teenager on Folkestone beach, as he had before. However, his plans were thwarted when her stepfather went instead and took photographs.

Judge Griffith-Jones said her parents' vigilance and responsible actions were to be "commended and congratulated".

As part of his sentence King, of Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, was also made subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order banning him from communicating or residing with anyone under the age of 16, as well as possessing or using computer or mobile phone equipment with Internet access.