A CHESHIRE man who messaged a 14-year-old girl from Bury and arranged to meet up with her to engage in sexual activity has been spared jail.

Maximillian Hussey met the young girl on social media and messaged over five days in May 2019, Minshull Street Crown Court heard.

He made his sexual desires clear and told her when they met up this would take place in an alley or a forest, the court was told.

The 23-year-old set up a meeting at Bury Interchange but did not attend. He was later detained by police and confessed to planning a meeting with an underage girl and sending messages of a sexual nature.

Hussey, of Pool Street, Macclesfield, admitted to a sexual grooming offence.

Judge Paul Lawton said: "You have pleaded guilty to extremely serious sexual charges as you are well aware.

"The complainer, who is protected by lifelong anonymity, was 14 years old. You met her in 2019 on a social messaging network, she told you she was 14, it must have been crystal clear she was under the age of consent.

"I have to sentence you on the basis you had no intention of attending the meeting."

He suspended a jail term of 12 months for two years, placed him on the sex offenders' register for 10 years and ordered him to carry out 25 days of rehabilitation activities.