A COP who was involved in bringing paedophile Keith Banks to justice, has said he is "dangerous" and a "real risk to children".

Keith Banks was in an Australian detention centre awaiting deportation to the UK in September last year after serving a sentence for child sex offences when he tried to arrange to sexually abuse a ten-year-old girl.

Banks arrived at the location in Rayleigh where he was arrested by officers from the force's Police Online Investigation Team (POLIT).

Investigating officer PC Adam Colbear, from POLIT, said: “It is clear Keith Banks intended to commit further child sexual offences in the UK even before he was deported from Australia.

“He used email while in a detention centre to speak to people intent on causing harm to children.

“He is a dangerous offender who clearly poses very real risk to children.

“A number of agencies were involved in securing this conviction and sentencing and I want to thank everyone involved.

“It’s excellent partnership working like this which means no sexual predator can feel impervious to law enforcement, even if they’re in a different country.”

He was later charged with trying to arrange or facilitate the commission of a child sex offence and breaching a SHPO.

He admitted these charges at Basildon Crown Court on December 3 and appearing at the same court virtually on Wednesday July 15 was jailed for six years with a further eight years on extended licence.