A PAEDOPHILE who attempted to rape a young child and had thousands of images of children has been locked up for 12 years.

Vernon Pickett, 52 of Waldringfield, Basildon, also forced the girl to perform a sex act on him, made indecent images of the child and sexually assaulted her.

Appearing at Basildon Crown Court on Friday, Pickett admitted a number of sexual offences.

The court heard 3,000 images of young girls were found on Pickett’s electronic devices.

Prosecuting, Diana Pigot, told the court indecent images were found on his phone as well as internet searches for images of young girls.

Ms Pigot said: “He was initially arrested in connection with malicious communication and had two phones and would not give the police the codes to the phones.

“Police then checked the phone and found 28 videos of offences against a girl and the defendant was arrested on July 27 last year.”

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Ms Pigot also told the court Pickett had previous convictions for dishonesty, violence and breaching a non-molestation order.

Mitigating on behalf of Pickett, John Caudle, told the court: “He fully accepts this is an extremely serious case.

“He cannot explain it and it was madness.

“He previously worked with a youth football club and there were no issues at all.”

Pickett was sentenced to 12 years on prison with six years on licence where he will be watched closely by the legal system. He will be eligible for parole after nine years of his jail sentence.

Sentencing Pickett, judge Samantha Leigh told him: “You admitted all but two of the offences and these will stay on your record.”

The court was told more than 300 films were found.

The judge said: “I have seen the two most serious and when you were interviewed by police you completely denied the incident.”

Judge Leigh added: “There is also evidence of grooming behaviour too and in my view there is a significant risk of serious harm to the public.”