A paedophile who sexually abused a schoolgirl after befriending her through an internet chatroom was today starting a year-long jail sentence.

Disabled Colin Spencer-James targeted the 14-year-old girl through a teen chatroom and persuaded her to exchange mobile phone numbers.

Within weeks, Spencer-James, 32, of Burnham Avenue, Bognor, was meeting her outside her school in Southampton on a daily basis.

The pair even spent two nights together, when the teenager was indecently assaulted and asked to perform sexual acts.

Southampton Crown Court was told how police were alerted following concerns from parents about a man sitting in a car outside a city school. One boy claimed the occupant had taken his photograph.

Officers from a paedophile unit monitored and arrested Spencer-James in pub car park near the school where he said he was waiting for his girlfriend.

Richard Willcox, prosecuting, said a computer disc containing 11 indecent images of young boys was found when the defendant's home was searched.

Spencer-James had told the teenager he was 26.

He had taken her to his home without her parents' knowledge and had taken photographs of her.

They had met on a daily basis for about four weeks.

When arrested, he sent the girl text messages on her mobile phone to say goodbye as he intended to kill himself.

Spencer-James, an electrical store worker, pleaded guilty to indecent assault, gross indecency with a child, two charges of abducting a child and three of making indecent pictures of a child.

Spencer-James, who suffers from a wasting disease and walks with crutches, showed no emotion as sentence was passed.

Judge David Griffiths, who imposed a 12-month prison term with a 17-month extended supervision order, told him: "I am satisfied that you used the internet to target this under-age girl. At all stages you knew she was under-age but you carried on.

"I am quite satisfied that by taking her out and spoiling her as you did you were grooming her."

Simon Gedge, defending, said Spencer-James, who was sexually abused as a child, had not forced the girl to do anything against her will but had known she was under the age of consent.

He said: "He himself now fully and completely understands the limits that society will set upon him."

After the hearing, investigating officer PC Andy Downer said the case should serve as a warning.

He said: "It is vital parents educate their children about the dangers of the internet."