A Plymouth man is due in court in the US, accused of flying out to molest a six-year-old girl.

John Brewer, 39, was due in court in Minnesota after being detained by customs and immigration officials last month.

The officials allegedly found a sexually suggestive picture of a six-year-old in his luggage after he declared that he had a previous conviction in Britain for a child sex offence.

According to court papers, Brewer flew to Minneapolis St Paul International Airport on December 13 on the invitation of a woman who said he could have a relationship both with her and the child, who was her niece.

He was arrested and charged with aggravated sexual abuse, on suspicion that he entered the state to 'engage in a sexual act with a person who has not attained the age of 12 years'.

According to a law enforcement statement, submitted as evidence, Brewer's bags were searched when he told a customs official that he had a previous conviction in Britain for 'indecent contact with a minor'.

He said he had served three years probation for the offence.

Officials found the photograph of the child in a sexually suggestive pose, along with letters written to Brewer by the woman from Wisconsin, the statement said.

The document, written by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement Special Agent, states that, after further questioning by officials, Brewer said his intentions on travelling were to 'begin an adult relationship' with the woman on the understanding that he would also 'have a sexual relationship' with her young niece.

Before leaving Plymouth, unemployed Brewer had told his neighbours in Fairview Avenue that he was going to meet a woman he had met during an internet romance.

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