A man groomed five young girls and asked them to send him explicit photographs of themselves.

John Reid, 31, was found guilty in October of targeting the girls, who were all aged between 12 and 15 and lived in Lanarkshire.

Reid, from Bathgate, West Lothian, contacted them on social media and encouraged them to send intimate photographs of themselves.

The British Aerospace engineer was also convicted of arranging to travel to meet them before engaging in sexual activity in the presence of some of the girls.

Reid was jailed for seven years at Airdrie Sheriff Court on Friday and Police Scotland welcomed the sentence.

Detective inspector Sarah Taylor, of the National Child Abuse Investigation Unit, was senior investigating officer on the case.

She said: "Reid is a very dangerous man who contacted a number of young girls for his own sexual gratification.

"He was fully aware that the young girls he was contacting and coercing into sending intimate photos of themselves were children."

Ms Taylor warned offenders police were using every tool at their disposal to track down those involved in child abuse.

"Anyone who believes the internet offers anonymity to exploit children and young people should understand that there is no hiding place," she said.

"Every contact leaves a trace and we will employ the latest technologies and techniques to investigate and combat threats, to protect those who are at risk of falling victim to abuse and exploitation and to bring offenders before the courts."