POLICE have vowed to use every technological advancement available to them to protect children from depraved and dangerous offenders after a paedophile living in St Helens was put behind bars.

Uruguayan Mauricio Dorta Vinas, 31, who had been living at Hopkins Close, in Old Eccleston, was caught out by an undercover police operation attempting to use the social media dating app Grindr to arrange to commit a sexual offence against a child.

He pleaded guilty to arranging/facilitating the commission of a child sex offence and was last week sentenced to six years in custody and a further five years on licence.

Dorta Vinas was arrested in May after arranging, via Grindr and a private messaging site, to meet the undercover officer – who posed as the dad of children – to commit a sexual offence against a child.

The court heard how Dorta Vinas made harrowing claims of being linked to an international paedophile ring.

Mereyside Police has confirmed it is investigating those claims.

Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Constable Rob Deponeo, from Merseyside Police’s Abusive Images Unit, said: “Offenders often think that the internet will offer them complete anonymity to commit offences, but I can assure them that this is not the case.

“Merseyside Police has specialist officers working tirelessly with other agencies to identify offenders, no matter where in the world they live or what devices they use.

“A massive amount of work is done by law enforcement agencies throughout the world to identify offenders, infiltrate their networks and uncover the evidence we need to put them behind bars and ensure that suitable safeguarding measures are put in place.

“We work with other UK forces, agencies and the Child Exploitation Online Protection centre as well as agencies in other countries who share our desire and determination to protect children from depraved and dangerous offenders.

“We will use every tactic and technological advancement available to ensure people cannot and do not get away with the terrible crimes they have committed.”

If you have concerns about someone’s online behaviour, contact Merseyside Police either by DM @MerPolCC, or by calling 101.

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111. If you suspect that the life of a child or adult is in immediate danger or a crime is ongoing dial 999.