A LONG distance lorry driver who pulled onto a Whitefield industrial estate expecting to have sex with an an underage girl has been spared jail.

Bolton Crown Court heard how the 13-year-old virgin Wayne Evans was planning to encounter was really an undercover police officer who had been posing as a child on the internet.

Andrew Evans, prosecuting, told how, on July 9 last year, married 42-year-old Evans began messaging a girl called Niamh whom he had found via the KIK app.

A total of 10 messages were exchanged, becoming increasingly sexual in nature and during which the "girl" told Evans she was 13 and had never had sex.

Wayne Evans told her he was due to make a delivery to Trafford on July 13 and would meet her in Whitefield during his break.

But when Evans arrived at the Park 17 industrial estate on Moss Lane, Whitefield, at 10.55am that day it was police waiting to meet him instead.

Officers found condoms in the cab of his vehicle.

Michael Goldwater, defending, said Evans was of previous good character and stressed that no child had been harmed as a result of the offence.

"He was given every encouragement by the person on the other side to engage in his unsavoury fantasies," said Mr Goldwater.

He added that the fantasies had been brought on by the long periods of time Evans had spent alone whilst driving his lorry.

As a result of the offending his wife is now divorcing him and he is living in a bed and breakfast.

"He has paid a high price," said Mr Goldwater.

Evans, of Issacs Hill, Cleethorpes, pleaded guilty to sexual grooming.

Recorder Michael Murray told Evans that sentencing him was a difficult exercise.

"It is quite clear what your intention was. It was vile in any view and criminal in any view," he said.

But he added that no child had been a victim.

"I'm just persuaded you don't immediately need to go to prison," said Recorder Murray.

Evans was sentenced to 15 months in prison, suspended for two years, must undertake 25 days of rehabilitation activities and must participate in a sex offenders' programme.

He was also placed on the sex offenders' register and a sexual harm prevention order was made limiting his contact with children.