A MARCH man who groomed two underage girls online has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register.

Richard Chalmers, 26, of New Park, March, befriended teenagers on social networking sites before sending them explicit messages.

He was sentenced at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday to a two-year community order with specialist sex offender treatment and given a five year Sexual Offences Prevention Order which bans him from unsupervised contact with girls under 16, using the internet to contact any girls under 16 or using any device capable of accessing the internet unless it records his browsing history.

Detective Constable Tade Toseland said: “Chalmers befriended these young girls online. He was fully aware of their age as he made reference to their school uniforms, and tried to take advantage of their vulnerability.

“Thankfully the victims did not agree to meet up with him and alerted their parents or schoolteachers.

“We would always encourage parents to notify police if they suspect their child has been contacted by older people online.”

In January and February 2011, he sent messages to a 13 year old in Wisbech. Using the name ‘Party Time?’ he commented about pictures of her in her school uniform.

However the girl alerted her parents and school.

He was arrested in August that year and questioned about the messages.

But, at the start of 2012, he began sending messages to a 14 year old in Blackburn, Lancashire.

Chalmers had already been investigated after sending messages to a 13 year old in Ramsey, in 2009.

Officers also discovered indecent images on his computer.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of making indecent photographs and two charges of inciting a girl under 16 to engage in sexual activity.

Two further charges of attempting to meet a girl under 16 following grooming were ordered to lie on his file.