A Penrith man who attempted to sexually communicate with children online has been jailed.

A man from Penrith was jailed on Friday (29 May) for attempting to sexually communicate with a child online.

David Winkley-Balmer, 30, from Penrith, was arrested after he attempted to communicate with, what he thought, were 14-year-olds online.

The 30-year-old pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting to sexually communicate with a child and one count of attempting to cause a child watch sexual activity.

He appeared at Carlisle Crown Court and was sentenced to 12 months in prison.

This sentence was added onto a burglary offences to make the total prison sentence two years and four months.

He was also made subject of a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and has been placed on the sex offenders register.

Detective Constable Alice Wood, from Westmorland and Furness CID said: “Winkley-Balmer was fully aware the two ‘children’ he was speaking to were 14 years old when he engaged in conversations of a sexual nature.

“Fortunately, there were no actual children involved in this case, but it is clear Winkley-Balmer poses risk to young people.

“We are committed to ensuring children are safe from those seeking to commit them harm and we will do all we can to ensure those who commit offences are brought before the courts.

“I would urge people to familiarise themselves what their children are doing online – ask them questions and support them in using the internet safely.”