A paedophile from Woolwich has been jailed after he booked a hotel room in the hope of sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl.

Mark Cooper was jailed for two years yesterday after he pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to two sexual offences.

The 35-year-old, of Sandy Hill Road, had believed he was engaging with the girl over a three-month period from November 2015 when he arranged to meet her.

He was arrested by officers from the National Crime Agency in February when he travelled to Milton Keynes from Woolwich expecting to meet the youngster.

Officers discovered he had booked a hotel room for the both of them.

In June Cooper was charged with attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming and one count of making indecent images of children after illegal photos were found on his mobile.

Martin Ludlow, from the NCA’s Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command, said: “Mark Cooper attempted to manipulate a 13 year old into meeting him, and there is no doubt that his objective was to engage in sexual activity with that child.

“The NCA works continuously to protect children from dangerous individuals like Cooper, and to bring offenders to account.”

As well as two years in prison, Cooper was given a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Anyone who suspects a child is being groomed can report their concerns to the NCA CEOP Command , via www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre