A sex offender travelled to Kent hoping to meet a boy after bombarding him with obscene messages, images and videos over several weeks.
Kevin Scarnell, 59, repeatedly contacted the young teenager between March 28 and April 24, 2025, using dating and social media apps.
Kevin Scarnell a sex offender from Camden in London
He sent sexually explicit messages describing his preferences and demanded indecent pictures while urging the child to meet him in a car park on the outskirts of Maidstone.
Scarnell told the boy how “excited” he was and even got a haircut the day before to “look sharp” for their meeting.
On April 25, he travelled from his home in Fellows Road, Camden, north London, to the agreed location near West Park Road.
Officers on proactive patrols noticed his blue Ford Fiesta circling the car park and stopped him after he failed to explain why he was there.
His mobile phone was seized, and evidence confirmed he was intent on sexually assaulting the child.
Scarnell later admitted arranging sexual activity with a child, engaging in sexual communication with a child, and causing a child to watch sexual activity.
‘Scarnell acted with complete disregard for anything other than his own sexual gratification…’
The paedophile was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on October 16 to two years and eight months in prison.
He was also given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which restricts his contact with children and his use of technology to prevent further offences.
Det Con Andrew Hunter said: “Scarnell acted with complete disregard for anything other than his own sexual gratification.
“While he initially claimed he arranged the meeting to dissuade his target from engaging in sexual activity, a thorough investigation uncovered his true intent.
“A custodial sentence, alongside the conditions of his SHPO, means Scarnell will be prevented from continuing his predatory behaviour.”