A pervert feared he was being set up when he had discussions with a mother to have sex with her six-year-old daughter, a court heard.

Carlton Loo told her he was worried it was part of a police operation and he would be arrested.

"He said if it was the case could he please be told and he would not turn up and not do it again," said prosecutor David Brock.

But despite his misgivings, the 47-year-old, who worked as a mental health advocate, still arranged a meeting – and was promptly arrested.

Now, Loo, of Whitehall Road, Ramsgate, has been jailed for five years after admitting three offences of arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence.

Maidstone Crown Court heard he made contact in January with a woman on the internet not realising she was an undercover police officer.

Texts and phone calls were exchanged in which Loo told her: “All I want to do is meet someone with a family like you.

“These are appalling offences..." Irshad Sheikh, defending

“Hope you are not a scam. I would like to visit. Just don’t want to get either of us into trouble.

“I would like to have a regular thing. Would you join in? You sound very cute and petite.”

Loo stated what he wanted to do with the young girl but said she was too young for full sexual intercourse.

He arranged the meeting at Waitrose coffee shop in Crowborough, east Sussex, on February 5.

“He said he had brought gifts for the children and was very excited,” said Mr Brock.

“If nothing happened this weekend, he would like to meet again in the future.”

His car was searched and a girl’s black dress and sweets were found.

Mr Brock said Liverpool-born Loo had previous convictions for violence but none for sex offences.

Irshad Sheikh, defending, said abuse as a child appeared to have an impact on him.

He had an entrenched addiction to alcohol.

He had been in relationships with women but after the last one ended he became depressed.

“These are appalling offences,” said Mr Sheikh.

“But this was a fictitious child of a fictitious mother. This was going to be a fictitious event.”

A sexual harm prevention order was made and Loo’s name will appear on the sex offenders’ register.