A Wiltshire sex offender has avoided jail after being convicted of sexual communication with what he believed to be a 14-year-old girl.

Gary Edge, of Swaledale Road in Warminster, was sentenced at Salisbury Crown Court, on Monday, July 3, after being convicted of attempted sexual communication with a child and attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act.

The 46-year-old was given a prison sentence of eight months, suspended for two years.

He will remain on the sex offender’s register for 10 years and is subject to a sexual harm prevention order for the same period of time.

Between March and May last year, Edge had been communicating with an adult decoy posing as a 14-year-old girl.

He continued to try to engage her in sexual conversation after being told she was 14,

Wiltshire Police were informed of the communication and Edge was arrested and subsequently charged in June 2022.

CID’s DS Sam Hopkinson said: “I’m pleased that Edge has been sentenced and has been given a lengthy sexual harm prevention order and must be on the sex offender’s register for the next decade.

“Wiltshire Police is completely committed to protecting children from sexual abuse and those who seek to do them harm.”

Edge must also pay a victim surcharge of £156 and comply with a six-month alcohol treatment requirement and a 20-day rehabilitation requirement.

DS Hopkinson also encouraged any victims of sexual offences to come forward and report the crime to police.

He added: “While there was fortunately no victim in this case, I would like to take this opportunity to encourage anyone who has suffered a sexual offence to please come forward and speak to us as soon as you can.

“Our specially trained officers will treat you with sensitivity and compassion.

“I would also urge anyone who has concerns that a child they know may be being abused or exploited, to report this to us.”

More information and advice on reporting child abuse can be found on the Wiltshire Police website.