A PERVERT from London has been jailed for grooming a 12-year-old Runcorn schoolgirl online after her quick-thinking mum blocked him in his van.

Barry Boschen, 44, was sentenced to 12 months in prison at Chester Crown Court and given a 10 year Sexual Harm Prevention Order after admitting engaging in sexual communication with a child.

Cheshire Police say Boschen posed as a 21-year-old from London on Snapchat and befriended his 12-year-old victim after she accepted a friend request.

The girl's mum became suspicious after coming across Boschen’s name as she checked her daughter's social media account.

She investigated further and discovered he had sent sexually explicit messages over a period of a month with requests to meet, despite the victim telling him she was 15.

After speaking with her daughter she contacted the police and officers launched an investigation. However, the following day she noticed that he had uploaded a comment asking if anyone was in Chester or Runcorn and wanted to meet up.

The victim’s mum and a relative seized the opportunity and went to a fast food restaurant in Runcorn where they expected to find him.

The pair identified Boschen, who was sitting in a van and the mum used her car to block him into his parking space.

Police attended and he was subsequently arrested and charged.

Speaking after Boshchen, of Benhill Avenue in Sutton, London, was jailed, DC Joanna Barclay said: “The mother’s actions have highlighted the importance of being social media savvy as a parent.

"She did the right thing and called us the previous day to report her concerns. She was incredibly quick witted and brave in what she did but we would always urge people to call us straight away if they have any further information or suddenly discover where the suspect is, and let us deal with it to avoid getting into a potentially dangerous situation.

“While social media has its benefits, it can also be a minefield for parents and children alike. If you’re not clued up on social media then we advise you to have a look at some useful websites which will help you to navigate the social media world and how to work with your children to make it safe and enjoyable.”