THE IMAGE of a paedophile who tried to meet a girl at a Hampshire Lidl has been released.

Martins Edward Manns was branded a danger to the public by a judge at Southampton Crown Court.

Judge Christopher Parker QC said that the 59-year-old posed a significant risk of serious harm to young girls.

Manns, of Twyford Road, Eastleigh sent naked photos of himself to who he believed was a 14-year-old schoolgirl.

Prosecution barrister, John Upton told how the sex offender was in fact speaking to a fake online profile operated by paedophile hunters.

Furthermore, at the time he had been under investigation for another child sex offence.

The court heard how Manns had set up an online profile with the name ‘Up for it’.

He messaged a 13-year-old girl called Mabel H via the website Chatiw.

But again, Manns was speaking with a fake profile - controlled by a police officer.

He then tried to meet the fictional girl at the Lidl store in Coles Close, Eastleigh.

Manns was spotted in the car park by officers and then followed home.

He was charged with intentionally attempting to communicate with a child under the age of 16 for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification and attempting to meet a girl under the age of 16 with the intention of sexual activity.

He pleaded guilty to the offences which happened between September last year and June this year

Defending, Gaylene Coles argued that her client was “extremely remorseful and ashamed for his behaviour”.

She said he had been impacted by the loss of his mother, mother-in-law and what his daughter had experienced in childbirth.​

Judge Christopher Parker QC jailed him for five years.

When he is released he will be subject to a two-year licence

Manns will have to register as a sex offender indefinitely and will be the subject of a sexual harm prevention order until further order