A 45-year-old police officer who tried to persuade a mum to have sexual activity with her own very young children has been jailed for one year.

Adam Leighton-Price, of Priory Road, Portbury, was sacked last month by Avon and Somerset Police after 25 years service.

He pleaded guilty at Gloucester Crown Court to encouraging an adult online to engage in sexual activity with a child under 13 in November 2017.

He also admitted three charges of possessing extreme pornographic images of bestiality.

Jailing Leighton-Price, Judge Ian Lawrie QC told him: “Within you there is a sexual deviancy of concern.”

At previous hearings the court heard that Leighton-Price was suffering from Leukaemia and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder at the time of his offending.

Defence Lawyer, Brendan Moorhouse said Leighton-Price had struggled to come to terms with the diagnosis and felt unsupported by his employers.

Prosecutor, Giles Nelson said the sexual grooming offence took place on the internet.

“He was asking a woman to get her own infant to sexually touch her," said Mr Nelson.

“It did not take place. She rang the police.”

The exchanges took place on the 'Kik Messenger Platform' the barrister said.

Leighton-Price adopted a pseudonym on the 'Plenty of Fish' dating website where he met the mother of two children.

“He lied about where he lived, and what his circumstances were,” Mr Nelson said. “He was aligning himself to a similar background.” Leighton-Price also pretended he had a daughter of his own.

Referring to a book by Nancy Friday, Mr Moorhouse said: “He came across a book to do with sexual fantasies. Widely available in bookshops, not illegal.”

The barrister said passages referred to 'relationships with parents and children'.

“His judgement was affected as such that he moved into that area to see if people ould do that in reality.

“That impairment of his health, his critical thinking, perhaps blurred the boundaries from something he read, to action.”

Mr Moorhouse said his client had suffered 'years and years of being ill'.

“How does that explain bestiality and his constant searching for such material?” The judge asked.

“It is deeply offensive material,” Mr Moorhouse accepted, “but over a short period of time. A tiny number of images were retained.

The judge retorted: “He is a policeman.He has a broader understanding of human frailties."

Mr Moorhouse urged a suspended jail term with 'a treatment programme given the brevity of the offending'.

After adjourning the hearing on Friday the judge ruled on Monday that he could not suspend the sentence, saying: “It has to be immediate, which is a matter of regret, but what you did cannot be ignored”.

He said Leighton-Price 'does not appear to be able to confront what he has done' and ruled that he did not accept a link between Leighton-Price's illness and his offending.

“The ill health is being managed,” the judge said. “The Leukaemia was diagnosed in 1990. I do not see how that is playing a part now.”

Alongside the jail term, Leighton-Price was ordered to sign the sex offender register for ten years.

Commenting, following the sentencing of Leighton-Price, an NSPCC spokeswoman for the South West of England said: "Leighton-Price has betrayed the position of trust he held in the community and would have been all too aware of the devastating impact that sexual abuse has on children.

“His appalling behaviour came to light when someone contacted the NSPCC Helpline, and we would urge anyone concerned about a child to speak out. Trained advisors are available on 0808 800 5000 to discuss their concerns and, if necessary, take action on their behalf.”

Children can contact Childline to discuss any worries they may have on 0800 1111 on online at childline.org.uk.