A man has been charged with offences including attempting to meet with a child following grooming in Portsmouth.

We received a report just after 10:30am on Wednesday 1 October that a man was attempting to meet a person he believed to be a child at Cosham train station, after inappropriately communicating with them online.

Officers arrested Richard Ashby, 51, of Cheltenham Road in Paulsgrove and he was subsequently charged with the following offences:

• Adult attempt to meet a girl under 16 years of age following grooming
• Adult attempt to engage in sexual communication with a child

Ashby appeared at Portsmouth Magistrates Court today (Thursday 2 October) where he pleaded guilty to both offences.

He has been remanded into custody and will appear again for sentencing in due course.