A PREDATOR who groomed a 15-year-old online before having sex with her has been jailed for four years.

Father-of-three David Havis, 38, began chats with the teenager in September via messaging site Omegle, and later via WhatsApp.

Havis, of Westbourne Gardens, Billericay, first met up with his victim at the Dolphin Swimming Centre, in Poole, and the pair engaged in sexual activity in a changing cubicle.

Bournemouth Crown Court heard he made no attempt to hide his age from the teenager, and was also well aware of her age.

Prosecutor David Richards said: “They communicated daily and extensively.

“In one message she said ‘I have cancelled my counselling course, been getting worse again’ with a sad face. He replied ‘Oh hon, that’s not good’.

"He was aware she was a young girl with some vulnerability.”

He said that through the “grooming” the pair reached a “mutual” desire to meet for sex.

In a message to Havis after their first meeting, the teenager said: "I kept thinking I should feel freaked out by the age thing but I'm not.”

On Sunday, October 26, Havis booked a room at the Queen’s Hotel in Bournemouth and the pair met up again, having sex twice.

The following month she told school friends, with teachers finding out and passing the information to police and social services.

Mr Richards read statements from the victim, who was worried the incident might affect her exam performance, and her father, who said it had damaged their relationship and he had been physically sick at the thought of what Havis had done.

In mitigation, Tom Horder said his client had not sought out an under-age girl and had met his victim via a chat site aimed at adult users.

He said Havis "had a successful life" which had unravelled during 2013 as he went through bereavement and a separation.

Addressing Havis, Judge John Harrow said: “By this aberration you have shattered everyone’s confidence in you and to a large extent destroyed your life.”

Havis, who was well respected in the Territorial Army, admitted three offences of sexual activity with a child and one count of grooming.

A Sexual Offences Prevention Order was imposed until further notice.