A PAEDOPHILE who offered to pay a prostitute for finding him an underage girl to have sex with was yesterday jailed indefinitely.

Long-distance lorry driver Mark Robinson, from Stockton, was given a sentence of imprisonment for public protection after being branded a danger by a judge.

The 51-year-old admitted a series of child sex crimes, but still denies he did anything wrong and refuses to accept he is sexually attracted to young girls.

Judge John Walford described his attitude as worrying and warned that he will be freed only when the Parole Board deems he is no longer a public risk.

Robin Turton, prosecuting, told Teesside Crown Court that Robinson abused one girl at his allotment and when he took her on overnight trips in his lorry.

On one occasion at the allotment, she was pushed backwards onto a chair but struggled free, believing she was about to be raped.

Despite being arrested and questioned after the youngster went to police, Robinson went on to commit further offences in the early part of this year.

He became a client of a prostitute and sent her text messages offering to pay her £60 if she could find him someone under 16, who he was prepared to pay £100 for sex.

Mr Turton told Judge Walford that the woman chose colleagues who looked underage, but were, in fact, older, and introduced them to Robinson.

Paul Cleasby, in mitigation, said his client had not exhibited sufficient remorse, but asked for the judge to give him credit for his guilty pleas.

He said: “Although he has not really done himself much credit, it is important that offenders plead guilty to offences to avoid further distress to their victims.”

Robinson, of Cedar Grove, Thornaby, admitted three charges of sexual assault and one count of facilitating the commission of a sex offence involving a child.

Judge Walford said: “One of the worrying features of the case is that you have persisted in your denial that you committed these sexual acts, and you have, just as worryingly, continued to deny that you are sexually attracted to children.

“Bearing in mind your continuing denials and having in mind that until you respond to appropriate treatment, you will remain a risk, I am satisfied that I would be failing in my public duty if I was to do anything other than to impose a term of imprisonment for public protection.”