A serial sexual predator who peered into women's houses and exposed himself to them has been jailed after police also found he tried to commit offences against a child.

Ryan Giles, a registered sex offender, visited addresses between February and May this year and stared at women through the windows.

The 36-year-old, of Greenhithe, regularly visited a woman's address without invitation and would stare and make unwelcome remarks whenever he saw her.

A court heard the unwanted attention caused distress and made her feel extremely uncomfortable.

He then visited another address and turned his attentions to another victim, lingering outside on a grassy area which had a view into her property.

On May 22, the woman saw him outside and when she confronted Giles, he said he was looking for a lost ring.

A neighbour later saw Giles committing an indecent act in the same place.

Three days later, Giles returned, staring at his victim and on May 28 she returned home to find him acting suspiciously again and said he was relieving himself.

Police were called and officers attended his address in Winston Close, Greenhithe but Giles told them he had not been out that day.

He was arrested and charged with indecent exposure and harassment.

At an earlier hearing at Maidstone Crown Court Giles admitted the charges and last week was sentenced to one year and 10 months in prison.

Giles was also imposed with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years and three restraining orders for five years.

His sentence also included another indecent exposure offence at a church carried out in October 2019 when he followed a woman inside claiming he needed to use the toilet.

The victim told the court they had been left feeling extremely vulnerable and was still having "issues" two years later connected to the incident.

He was also convicted of attempting to carry out 18 child sex offences between February 7 and 21 last year but was caught when a vigilante group on Facebook snared him after he sent lewd messages and tried to engage in sexual activity online, the court heard.

Stephanie Panchocowy, defending, said Giles realised his conduct was "a very, very serious matter indeed".

She added: "Giles is extremely remorseful and embarrassed by the way he conducted himself over a significant period of time."

She also said he had also made efforts to treat his alcohol and cocaine issues.

DC Hayley Hudson-Gool said: "Giles is clearly a repeat offender whose unacceptable conduct caused considerable concern to victims in their own homes.

"Women should not have to suffer this type of criminal activity and there is no doubt that north Kent is a safer place while he is serving his prison sentence.

"I would like to thank the victims who reported these incidents to the police and assisted us to bring this man to justice."