An Essex man who "preyed" on a 13-year-old girl's "vulnerability" before grooming and sexually abusing her has been jailed.

Scott Watson first met the victim outside a shop in Peterborough, on January 25 last year and they began talking. 

The 27-year-old asked her age to which she told him she was 13.

Cambridgeshire Police say he then began to compliment her body and the two exchanged phone numbers.

They met up again later that day and after this, Watson began communicating with her through Snapchat, WhatsApp and text messages and made numerous requests to meet him and perform sexual acts on each other.

The force says he also asked the victim to send him explicit photos.

In their messages, Watson, of Town Square, Basildon, made it clear he knew she was 13.

They once again met up on April 19 and visited several locations where Watson gave her alcohol and cannabis as well as another substance which made her unconscious.

Watson also asked her to have sex with him to which she refused.

On March 9, at Cambridge Crown Court, Watson was jailed for three years and four months, having admitted meeting a child following sexual grooming, sexual communication with a child and causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Watson was also given a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and must sign the Sex Offender’s Register.

DS Rebecca Welberry said: “Scott Watson shamefully preyed on the victim’s vulnerability to groom and abuse her.

“We will always support the strongest possible action for those who abuse children so I am pleased Watson is now behind bars.”