A previously-convicted child sex offender from Erith has been sentenced to three year's imprisonment after he was caught trying to contact a 12-year-old girl on Instagram.

Steven Baldock, of Compton Place, Erith, was described as a "repeat offender who continues to pose a risk to female children" after he breached his Sexual harm Prevention Order.

The 51-year-old was previously convicted of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity in 2016, and was sentenced to two years jail time, but suspended for two years.

He was also placed on the sexual offenders register for ten years and given a SHPO under the conditions that prohibited him from using the internet to contact or to attempt to contact any female whom he knows or believes to be under the age of 16.

But on November 14, 2020, Baldock initiated contact with a 12-year-old girl via Instagram.

At around 1:30am, he started a conversation with the girl, then sent her a photo of himself.

Residents who were living with Baldock discovered he was contacting girls under the age of 16 and reported him to police.

He was found to be contacting a number of other girls in breach of his order, and was arrested on November 24.

Detective Sergeant Neil Dickerson from the Met’s South East Basic command unit, said: "Baldock is a repeat offender who continues to pose a risk to female children, and despite being issued with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, Baldock has continued to breach it and shows no remorse for his offending.”

Baldock was sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court on Monday, January 18, to three years' imprisonment for breaching the SHPO order.

Anyone who has been a victim of a sexual offence is encouraged to contact police without delay.

All allegations of sexual offences are taken very seriously, and victims are supported by specially trained officers throughout the investigation and any resulting proceedings.

If you have information concerning an offence please call police on 101, Tweet @MetCC or, to remain 100% anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. In an emergency always dial 999.