A former soldier who now works on movie sets has been jailed after he tried to meet up with a girl he thought was just 14. 

Michael O’Mahoney, 38, of High Street in Stratford, was convicted of attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. 

O’Mahoney denied the charges but he was jailed for 18 months after a jury found him guilty of both. 

Cardiff Crown Court heard that the attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act offence happened in Newport and the attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child charge occurred in London – both between November 22, 2022, and March 28 this year. 

His barrister Peter Donnison said: “He does have previous convictions but none for offences such as this nature and they are of a particular age and it is some length of time since them. 

“The most serious offence was of a completely different context as well and it was committed whilst he was serving in the army. 

“Having been released from that previous sentence he has worked for a number of companies in different areas and in particular has been working on movie sets for Movie Guard in terms of providing security in that industry.” 

The judge, Recorder John Hardy KC, told O’Mahoney: “It's wholly unnecessary for me to lecture you about these offences. 

“You know what it is you've been convicted of doing by the jury whose verdicts were returned, if I may say so, with some considerable degree of promptitude.” 

O’Mahoney will have to register as a sex offender and was made subject of a sexual harm prevention order for ten years.