A DRIVING instructor and music teacher has pleaded guilty to one count of an attempt to sexually communicate with a child.

Paul Swift of Ryelands Street, Hereford was caught trying to talk to a 11-year-old girl on the internet as part of a police operation.

Hereford Magistrates Court heard that on February 26 last year the 38-year-old attempted to communicate with an anonymous person under the age of 16 to obtain sexual gratification, when he did not consider the person to be over 16.

Nicola Ritchie, prosecuting, said the defendant had a sexual conversation in a private message in an internet chat room.

Swift believed he was talking to an 11-year-old girl from Derby. He told her he was 25-years-old and she told him she was 11 and went to school.

Ms Ritchie said Swift asked the "girl" what she was wearing and asked her questions of a sexual nature.

The IP address led police to the defendant's home in Hereford and he was arrested.

She said Swift is a driving instructor and a music teacher who has unsupervised access to children.

Swift ran a driving school in Hereford and also took private piano lessons.

Ms Ritchie said due to the defendant's job role the offence is placed in a higher culpability.

He had no previous convictions.

Magistrates committed the sentencing to crown court due to the serious nature of the offence.

He will appear at Worcester Crown Court on February 6.

Swift was released on conditional bail. He is not to use any device capable of accessing the internet unless it has the capacity to retain the internet history, which can be shown to the police when requested. He is also not to be employed, paid or voluntary, where he interacts with children under the age of 16. Swift must also live and sleep at his home address in Ryelands Street.