Update: James Lacy has been released and has moved to Nottingham and Changed his name to James Adams April 2016 Man jailed for child sexual offences pretended to be policeman A MAN who pretended to be a trainee police officer to impress a vulnerable 15-year-old girl so that they could have sex, has been sent to prison. James Lacy, originally from Helston and now aged 23, also gave the impression over the internet, in texts and calls that he was also hoping to be a social worker. Jailing him for two years and eight months at Plymouth Crown Court, Judge Paul Darlow told Lacy that he had groomed the youngster. He said: “You latched on to this girl despite becoming aware of her vulnerabilities. This went beyond the acts of a foolish or misguided loner.” Lacy, who at the time lived in Plymouth and is now of Bransdale Road, Nottingham, admitted one count of sexual activity with a child, two counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity, one count of causing a child to watch a sexual act, inciting a child into pornography and four counts of making or possessing indecent images of a child between August and December 2013. He was aged 21 at the time. Lee Bremridge, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said they started talking over social media that summer, before getting in touch via phone calls, texts and Skype messages. He said: “It is clear from the messages which passed between them that this defendant did his best to impress her and there were clear attempts to groom her to perform sexual acts and ultimately have sexual intercourse. “At one point he gave the impression he was training to be a police officer and also a social worker in clear attempts to gain her trust.” Mr Bremridge said Lacy knew her age and that she was under the care of social services. He added that the girl, her mother and brother, travelled from their home in another part of the country to Plymouth – partly to visit a nearby college and partly for a week’s holiday. Mr Bremridge said the girl later told police she had sex with Lacy almost every day of the visit. Piers Norsworthy, for Lacy, said that the girl was within weeks of her 16th birthday when they had sex. He added: “If the trip to Plymouth had been delayed then he would not have committed the main offence on this indictment”. Mr Norsworthy said he did not seek out someone who was underage and was immature with few friends. He added: “It just so happened that their paths crossed and there was a genuine friendship between them. “There was an interest by him at an early stage to join some aspect of the police force.” Mr Norsworthy said at the time of the offences he was drinking heavily as a student, but he had now reduced his drinking and was hoping to set up an IT business.