A paedophile who sent 250,000 messages to boys across Greater Manchester, Lancashire and West Yorkshire has been jailed.
Nigel Delaney, 65, of New North Road, Huddersfield, was found driving on the M65 motorway with a 15-year-old boy from Accrington in his car in April, 2016.
He was discovered to have an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) banning him from contacting any child under the age of 17.
Officers launched a separate investigation and after two teenage boys reported being contacted on their mobile phones by an unknown man.
A photo of the man sent to the boys revealed it was Delaney who had been contacting them.
Police seized Delaney’s phone and discovered he sent hundreds and thousands of messages to boys across the Lancashire, Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire areas.
He was re-arrested and charged by police for a number of child sex offences.
Delaney was sentenced to 12 years in prison, as well as a further five years on licence and was handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
He must serve a minimum of eight years and has been made subject to sex offender notification requirements.