(Image: Durham Constabulary)
A sick ex-soldier planned to meet a '14-year-old' girl at a KFC and take her to his Shildon home for sex, telling her to wear her school skirt.
David Horne, is starting his second long prison sentence over his continuing "sexual preoccupation with young girls". Then 44, received a five-year term of imprisonment for 22 offences, including sexual activity with a 13-year-old girl, in 2012.
Despite being made subject of indefinite sexual prevention orders, and having undergone and completed post-release probation supervision, it did not deter him from his more recent offending, also targeting young girls, earlier this year.
Horne came to police attention over his online contact with what he thought were girls aged 13 and 14, but which were in reality trained decoy operatives, one of whom he planned to meet for sexual activity.
David Horne jailed for six years as a 'dangerous' offender continuing to pose a 'high risk' to young females
(Image: Durham Constabulary)
Durham Crown Court heard he arranged to pick up the 14-year-old girl from a KFC restaurant in Peterlee to take to his Shildon home for sexual activity.
The court heard he had told the girl to wear her school skirt and he would collect her at 4.30pm, on March 9.
But the court was told that earlier that afternoon he was arrested at his place of work over his grooming behaviour.
The now 58-year-old defendant, of Ruby Street, admitted eight charges, including attempting to arrange the commission of a child sex offence, at Durham Crown Court, in May.
Sentence was adjourned to allow the Probation Service to make an assessment of the danger Horne is considered to pose of future offending.
Having been remanded in custody, he appeared for sentence at Teesside Crown Court, on Wednesday (August 19) via video link from Holme House Prison, Stockton.
Martin Scarborough, representing Horne, told the court he is "socially-isolated" and concerned how he will fare with another long-term of imprisonment due to health concerns.
Mr Scarborough said the defendant previously served his country and was in employment when arrested for his latest offences earlier this year.
"There are a number of offences here and I accept his previous convictions elevate this above the five-year starting point."
Judge Aisha Wadoodi said Horne had shown "persistent grooming behaviour" with both the girls he believed he was in contact with, from February into March this year.
It culminated in the planned meeting with the supposed 14-year-old, who the defendant believed was the more sexually experienced of the girls he thought he had been exchanging messages with online.
"You were arrested at work before the meeting time and, mercifully, there were no actual victims.
"They were decoys with whom you had been communicating, but you didn't know they were not real girls.
"This was entrenched behaviour
"Your actions demonstrated consistent grooming and predatory behaviour.
"The probation report author puts it in the bracket of posing a serious risk.
"You have a high sexual preoccupation and seek sexual gratification targeting female children."
Sentencing him as a "dangerous offender", particularly to young females, the judge passed an extended sentence, featuring a six-year custodial element, of which the defendant must serve at least two-thirds before he can be considered for release by the Parole Board.
Upon his eventual release, Horne will be subject to three-years' extended licence supervision.
He was also made subject of an extended Sexual Harm Prevention Order and registration as a sex offender, both "indefinitely".
The judge ordered deprivation of devices seized from the defendant upon his arrest.