AN ANDOVER man who drove hundreds of miles to meet a 14-year-old girl for sex, only to be caught by a paedophile hunters group, has been jailed.

Earlier this year, it was reported by the Scottish Sun that Ian Mace, then 51, travelled 400 miles to Scotland thinking he was going to meet a teenager he had been speaking to online.

The Scottish Sun said that Mace had sent her thousands of messages on WhatsApp and app Highfive over the course of a month.

But when he arrived at the destination, 'Kelly' was not there. The girl who he thought he had been talking to was instead an adult from a group called 'Rising Against Online Predators', which describes itself as a "team who endeavour to take as many people who sexually exploit children online off the streets to make it a better place for children to grow up."

At a previous appearance at Hamilton Sheriff Court, he admitted communicating indecently with 'Kelly' and also attempting to meet with her between February and March 2018.

On Friday last week (August 21), Mace was jailed for 30 months for the incident.

A statement to the Advertiser on behalf of Hamilton Sheriff Court read: "The court having seen and considered the reports and having heard from Counsel in respect that no

other method of disposal is deemed appropriate sentenced the accused to 6 months imprisonment from this date on charge 1.

"The court sentenced the accused to 24 months imprisonment on charge 3, said period to be consecutive to the period imposed on charge 1.

"Total period of imprisonment 30 months from this date."

Mace was placed on the sex offenders' register. Mace was present at sentencing.