A PAEDOPHILE who attempted to arrange to have sex with a 14-year-old boy has avoided being sent back to prison.

Trevor Griffiths, of Warrington town centre, was originally jailed in March last year after being caught in a police sting – during which he made plans to fly away to Belfast with the child.

But the 62-year-old failed to sign the sex offenders’ register upon his release from prison in February and was hauled back before Warrington Magistrates Court on Monday, May 23.

The dad-of-six previously engaged in ‘predatory and appalling’ online chats with an undercover officer whom he believed to be a teenage boy in January 2019.

Using the pseudonym of Tom, Griffiths discussed plans to travel to Northern Ireland with the youngster and visit the cinema and McDonald’s together before sharing a hotel room for the night.

He then documented how they would have sex, wash each other and kiss and cuddle in bed.

The pervert went as far as booking a flight and purchasing a top-up card for the teen’s mobile phone so that they could stay in touch.

In a second chat with a police decoy, who was posing as a 17-year-old girl, Griffiths let slip his real name and phone number – leading to a raid at his then home on Ajax Avenue in Longford in April that year.

Officers seized three mobile phones upon his arrest, on which a stash of 63 indecent images of children – including vile pictures showing babies – and 77 extreme pornographic images was found.

He had also searched for ‘under 16 sex’ online, an analysis of the devices discovered.

Griffiths – who had no previous convictions – was locked up for 20 months, handed a 15-year sexual harm prevention order and told to sign the sex offenders’ register for a period of 10 years.

Warrington Guardian:

Griffiths leaving court during an earlier appearance

This latter condition required him to notify the authorities within three days of his release, but he failed to do so.

The defendant admitted failing to comply with notification requirements during his latest court appearance this week and was given a four-month imprisonment suspended for two years due to there being a ‘prospect of rehabilitation’.

Griffiths, now of Brick Street, was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £128 and court costs amounting to £85 – sums which will be deducted from his benefits.