A man has been jailed for almost a decade after he outlined his depraved sexual fantasies online to an undercover police officer.

Dean Ward, 39, described how he was abusing his eight-year-old daughter, though the child did not actually exist.

He also talked about the abuse he "wanted to happen" to the child and to the undercover officer's six-year-old daughter, who also did not exist.

Norwich Crown Court heard there was "extremely graphic and deeply disturbing" conversations between the two of them, including the rape of both imaginary children.

Eastern Daily Press: Norwich Crown CourtNorwich Crown Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)Danielle O'Donovan, prosecuting, said Ward, whose previous convictions include sexual assault and making indecent images of children, discussed in detail the rape of the girl and other fantasies.

Ward, who has five previous convictions for more than 20 offences, appeared for sentencing on Tuesday via videolink from HMP Norwich after admitting arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence on June 5, 2023.

Eastern Daily Press: Dean WardDean Ward (Image: Norfolk Constabulary)He also admitted three breaches of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) between May and June 2023.

Recorder Matthew Happold said Ward, of Barrett Road, Norwich, had engaged in "extremely unpleasant discussion" about "damaging, abusive acts" and "including the rape of both children".

Imposing an extended 13-year-sentence, made up of nine-and-a-half-years imprisonment and three-and-a-half years on licence, Recorder Happold said it was a "very serious offence".

Andrew Thompson, mitigating, said there was "never a real child".

He said there was no meeting and there could not have been as the child was "fictional".

Mr Thompson said Ward, who "never had a child" and "does not have a daughter" had been engaged in conversations about a "sexual fantasy" with the undercover officer who had also been talking about a non-existent child.

He said Ward was an "isolated" and "socially awkward" individual who "operated behind a keyboard in his bedroom".

Ward was also made the subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and put on the sex offenders register indefinitely.