A pervert who groomed a schoolgirl and went on to indulge in sex acts with her has been jailed for just under five years.

Daniel Sennett was told by a judge: “This was serious and wicked offending against a vulnerable girl.”

The 36-year-old building management engineer, of Berengrove Lane, Rainham, admitted inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and four offences of sexual activity with a child.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Sennett was separated from his wife when he met the 15-year-old victim through a mutual interest in sport.

Contact developed between them and text messages were exchanged.

“I probably like you more than I should or are allowed. I would probably go to jail for you” - text from pervert Daniel Sennett

Prosecutor Christopher May said the texts became increasingly sexual at the instigation of Sennett, who was using the name Ralph. He also sent her indecent photos of himself.

In one text he told her: “I probably like you more than I should or are allowed. I would probably go to jail for you.”

Mr May said the girl’s parents became concerned about a change in her behaviour. She said she was meeting someone but did not reveal it was an older man.

Her mother made the discovery and contacted the police when she read her daughter’s diary.

When interviewed, the girl revealed that various sex acts happened but said they did not have full intercourse.

She told how Sennett wanted her to wear her school uniform for him, but she did not do so. He told her what to say if the police found out.

“He said he was hoping to get off with a slap on the wrist and would just be on the sex offenders’ register,” said Mr May.

“He said he jokingly asked her to wear her school uniform. It was a fantasy of his.”

Mr May added that the girl continued to undergo counselling and was suffering from extreme anxiety.

Jailing Sennett for four years and 11 months, Judge Charles Macdonald QC said mitigation was “extremely limited”.

A sexual offences prevention order was made and Sennett’s name will appear on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.

Tom Stern, defending, said: “Ugly as this offending is, he is a man who has achieved a great deal of positive things in terms of work and personal life.

“His home life was collapsing. There is gross ill-judgement on his part. He is unlikely to recover from his tarnished reputation.”