A MAN from Yate has been jailed for 10 years for child sex offences.

Jason Paske, 40, was sentenced to 10 years in prison at York Crown Court today.

He had previously pleaded guilty to 26 charges for offences ranging from distribution of indecent images of children, making indecent images of children, attempting to arrange sexual activity with a teenage boy, and perverting the course of justice.

The investigation was conducted by Avon and Somerset police and North Yorkshire Police’s Protecting Vulnerable Persons Unit, during which a local victim in Scarborough was identified.

The forces have worked closely throughout the enquiry to secure the conviction of Mr Paske who was arrested in May 2014.

DC Sarah King, from the Internet Child Abuse Team at Avon and Somerset Constabulary, said: “Paske is a prolific offender who poses a real threat to children.

“He has exploited children in the worst possible way and has used the internet and social media to try and access more abhorrent material for his own sexual gratification.

“I hope this case serves to highlight that we will work with our partner forces and agencies to bring offenders like Paske to justice.”

Detective constable Nigel Pepper, of North Yorkshire Police’s Protecting Vulnerable Persons Unit in Scarborough, said: “Jason Paske is a truly horrendous and perverted man who is a menace to society.

“It is individuals like him that the public - in this country and worldwide -need protecting from, particularly in this age of the internet and social media.

“It is very satisfying for everyone involved in the investigation that Paske is now behind bars for a long time.”

Further suspected offenders have been uncovered in other countries including Germany and the Czech Republic.

Investigations are being progressed in those countries with assistance from Interpol.