A devoted wife today told of her devastation after her wealthy businessman husband was unmasked as a vile paedophile.

Michelle Parfitt said she had no idea husband Timothy, 43, had hatched a warped plan to abduct an 11-year-old schoolgirl after grooming her on the internet.

Speaking from her home in the picturesque village of East Dean after Parfitt was sentenced to three years in prison, Mrs Parfitt said she was trying to come to terms with her husband's behaviour.

The father-of-two travelled hundreds of miles in November 2004 to meet the girl near her home in the West Midlands after grooming her via an internet chatroom.

He was about to take the child away to assault her when the girl's mother, from Walsall, called the youngster's mobile phone and persuaded her to leave the car.

Judge Michael Challinor at Wolverhampton Crown Court described Parfitt, of Gilbert Drive, in East Dean, Eastbourne, as a dangerous and manipulating paedophile.

Parfitt, who runs Caylanoscar Bouncy Castles which supplies equipment for children's parties, was convicted of meeting a child following sexual grooming and abduction of a child.

Mrs Parfitt said: "I wasn't aware at all. It came as a complete shock to be honest.

"I know it's difficult to see that I didn't know but I had no idea he was going to meet that person.

"I have still got to get my head around all this."

Mrs Parfitt said she now fears for the safety of her sons because people have been calling her home and making threats.

She said: "Threats have been made against me. I have had death threats, the lot.

"I'm having a lot of trouble dealing. My children have had enough to deal with.

"At the end of the day I'm innocent, as are my children."

Mrs Parfitt declined to answer whether she would stand by her husband while he remained in prison but said she would be putting herself and her children first.

During the trial a 17-year-old girl Parfitt met three years ago when she was 14 cried in the witness box as she told of the messages he had sent her.

The prosecution said they were graphic. The messages asked her if she would have sex in his van or if a friend of hers would join them in a hotel room for a threesome.

Parfitt was put on the sex offences register, prohibited from having unsupervised contact with children and banned from using the internet.

Sentencing him, Judge Michael Challinor said: "I'm satisfied your intention was to engage in some kind of sexual activity with the girl if you found her attractive upon meeting her.

"If not for the activities of her mother she would have been exposed to serious harm."

The mother of the 11-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said she was delighted Parfitt was behind bars.

She said: "He is a wicked man. I felt I had to act because there was no doubt what he wanted from my daughter.

"I never thought I hated anyone but I do, I hate him.

"I think he's scum and shouldn't be allowed to live."

The mother said she blames herself feels she should have done more to protect her daughter.

She said: "As far as I'm concerned I have failed.

"You read about these things and I have been guilty of saying, 'what was her mum doing?'.

"If something goes wrong with your children you always blame yourself first, don't you?

"It was just utter shock and disbelief and I couldn't believe she had been so silly.

"The longer we can keep these people off the streets and the internet as well, it's one less to pray on children."

Parfitt was originally from Wokingham in Berkshire and but moved to Eastbourne in April 1971 aged seven.

After leaving Ratton School with few qualifications, he attended Eastbourne College of Art and Design and Hastings College of Further Education.

He made his wealth from his other business which designs, installs and makes the components for water slides and swimming pools.