A man who abducted a young girl while she was outdoors playing and tried to sexually assault her has been jailed for five years.
Paedophile John Mercer, 30, approached the girl in June this year while she was playing with friends in Essex.
Mercer lured the victim to a wooded area where he said he wanted to talk to her about sex before attempting to touch her but she ran off “distressed and frightened”, police said.
Police arrested Mercer, of Quarry Spring in Harlow, and discovered a haul of child pornography on an online file he could access on his mobile phone.
He was locked up for five years on Friday after pleading guilty to charges including abducting a child, attempted sexual assault and three counts of making indecent images of children.
Speaking after the hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court, investigating officer with Essex Police, DC Alana McCreath, said: “Mercer subjected a young girl to an extremely terrifying ordeal. Fortunately she quickly realised that she was in danger and ran home.
“Although she was not physically harmed, his actions have left her and her family deeply distressed and traumatised.
“I want to pay tribute to her bravery and courage throughout this investigation.
“These were very serious offences and the judge described in court how Mercer’s actions were every parent’s worst nightmare.
“I hope the sentence passed gives the victim some reassurance to know he is behind bars.”
Mercer must also sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for life and was made subject of a sexual harm prevention order, which will run indefinitely.
