A pervert has been been locked up for almost a decade after plotting to rape a child.

Former Scout leader Richard Cumberland who is from Faversham, confessed his desires to another convicted paedophile in graphic detail.

Fortunately, the 31-year-old convicted sex offender was caught before he was able to carry out any of plans.

Now Cumberland, who used to live in Preston Street in the town, had been staying in Powys in Wales prior to his arrest.

He admitted 15 offences, including arranging to meet a child for sex in 2017; and distributing indecent images of children.

Cumberland also admitted breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order when he attempted to make contact with someone he believed was a child - but turned out to be an undercover police officer.

Eight other offences - which he denied - were ordered to be left on the file.

Judge Julian Smith, sitting at Maidstone Crown Court, gave him an immediate nine-year jail sentence and added another four years which he will serve on extended licence once he is released.

He was shown "chatlogs" in which Cumberland plotted to give the children drink and drugs - and even suggested to the father of the child what drugs could be bought from Boots.

Judge Smith told him: "Your intentions were very graphic and vile.

"This was not idle chat, it was not spontaneous or mere fantastical discussions. These girls were real and you were involved in planning their rape with their father.

"The contents of the chatlogs with those of a like mind are deeply disturbing and speak in the most graphic terms of what you and they were looking for.

"You shared images of these young girls expressing your wish, your hope and your expectation that you would be able to abuse them with their father's permission.

"You were rejoicing in the fact they were to be your victims."

Several years ago, the disgraced former Scout team leader was jailed for a year after admitting causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and two offences of possessing indecent photographs of a child.

The same court heard how Cumberland made contact with an 11-year-old girl in a chatroom in September 2011 and asked her to send him explicit pictures.

Police went to Cumberland’s home after they were contacted by officers from West Mercia, where the victim lived.

When his computer was examined almost 300 images of child sex abuse, some at the highest levels of four and five, were found.

He admitted at the time: “I put my hands up to that. I am sorry, it’s child pornography.”

He told his father: “I have been a bad boy dad. I am so sorry.”

Cumberland left school with GCSEs and worked as a stonemason and tree surgeon and carried out voluntary work with Faversham Christmas Lights Committee.

To read more of our in depth coverage of all of the major trials coming out of crown and magistrates' courts across the county, click here.

For information on how we can report on court proceedings, click here.

Read more: All the latest news from Faversham

--