A MAN who travelled from London to sexually assault a girl from Worcestershire has been jailed for five years.

David Lyndon Cole was imprisoned after he pleaded guilty to two sexual assaults and one count of meeting a child after grooming during a trial at Worcester Crown Court on Monday, January 16.

The 22-year-old man from London was arrested by West Mercia Police officers in September last year.

He was found to have committed the offences after he met the 14-year-old victim on social media.

Cole then used the platform to groom the young girl before he travelled to Evesham and sexually assaulted her.

Detective sergeant Jim Hopkins from Worcestershire's child sexual exploitation team (CSE) led on the investigation.

He said: "A team of designated detectives in the CSE team worked very closely with the victim and her family to ensure they received all of the support their required throughout the investigation.

"This process has undoubtedly been traumatic for the young girl and I would like to take this opportunity to commend the courage she has shown and thank her for her support for this investigation.

"We are committed to protecting children from harm and there is a host of advice and information available to parents, carers and children about how to keep themselves safe online on the CSE page on our website.

"I urge everyone to take heed of this advice for themselves and their families.

"West Mercia Police and our partner agencies provide specialist support to those affected by child sexual exploitation and will continue to robustly target those who prey on the most vulnerable in our communities."

Cole was also placed on the sex offenders register for life and given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order restricting him from using the internet and engaging with anyone under the age of 16 for a total of five years.

* Anyone with any concerns about young people to contact police by dialling 101. Anyone who thinks a child is in imminent danger should dial 999. People can also call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.