A BOLTON man travelled all the way to Cardiff in the belief he was getting a mother to hand over her eight-year-old daughter to be abused – only to found he had been stung by a police decoy.

Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard after his crimes came to light Michael Crossley tried to tell police he was a paedophile hunter rather than a sexual predator himself.

He later failed to turn up for a trial in Wales but was convicted in his absence.

A warrant was executed for his arrest but he was spotted on the streets of Bolton in a stolen car.

The 34-year-old led police on an extended chase through the streets of the town, reaching speeds of 120mph before he was finally detained.

Crossley appeared in court to be sentenced after admitting arranging or facilitating sexual activity with a child in between August and November of 2020 and dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle taking and driving without insurance in August last year.

He also admitted to possession of cannabis, which was found on him when he was stung by police and failing to surrender to bail conditions.

The court heard he engaged with an account he believed was a mother with an eight-year-old daughter but was in fact an undercover police officer.

Crossley asked for pictures of them both and later agreed to pay £250 for sexual activity with the child.

He said he had not done this before and asked what sexual experience the child had.

In November 2020 he travelled to Cardiff in the hope of meeting the child and mother and took toys to placate the youngster.

But the 34-year-old was snared by officers when he arrived.

Crossley, of Rosehill Close, Bromley Cross, told police he was a paedophile hunter but failed to turn up at trial to make his case and he was found guilty by a jury in his absence.

After a warrant was executed for his arrest he was spotted in a stolen Mercedes in Bolton.

Roger Griffiths, prosecuting, said: “The car has been stolen in a robbery in July 2022.

“When Mr Crossley was driving it in August it was displaying false registration plates, which had been stolen.”

Crossley reached speeds of 120 miles per hour before being detained after a helicopter was used in the pursuit.

Isobel Thomas, defending, said in 2020 when he arranged sexual activity with the child he had gone through a breakdown, where his business had collapsed and his relationship of 16 years had ended and he had begun using crack cocaine.

But she said he continued to deny the offence.

Passing sentence, Recorder Lucy Crowther said Crossley had clearly travelled with toys which were to “please the child” who he was “planning to abuse.”

She added that during his high speed chase he had a “total disregard for anybody else’s safety.”

She jailed him for four-and-a-half years. He was also banned from driving for 51 months to take account of the time he will spend in custody. Crossley was also placed on the sex offenders’ register and made he subject of a sexual harm prevention order indefinitely.