A MAN who used the internet to contact girls in chat rooms and then went on to sexually assault some of them has been jailed for three-and-a-half years.

Tristan Driver, 35, a video cameraman from Dartford was sentenced by a judge at Maidstone Crown Court after pleading guilty to 14 child sex offences.

In March 2005, a warrant was executed at Driver's house. His computer was seized and analysed.

Driver had used internet chat rooms and private messaging to make contact with young girls aged between 11 and 15.

On some occasions a web cam was used by Driver and his victims. Driver also sought to meet up with girls he contacted and this led to him sexually assaulting some of them.

DC Polly Wilton, who led the investigation, said: "Whilst the internet provides many opportunities for young people to safely interact with people of their own age there are people who are looking to exploit children for their own sexual gratification.

"This case was an extreme example of such exploitation."