A BRANSGORE man accused of an internet plot to rape young girls has had his conviction quashed.

Charles James Dyer, also known as David Beavan, 43, of Bransgore, Alan Hedgecock, 42, from Twickenham and Robert Mayers, 43, from Warrington were all found guilty of conspiracy to rape two underage girls.

They were each given indefinite terms of imprisonment, for public protection, with Dyer given a minimum term of at least 11 years after previously pleading guilty to child pornography offences.

But the conviction was quashed after judges said there was no evidence to prove the plot was anything more than "fantasy."

Yesterday, at London's Court of Appeal, Lord Justice Laws, sitting with Mr Justice Lloyd Jones and Sir Michael Astill, quashed the convictions on the conspiracy to rape charges.

Describing a series of on-line chats as "repulsive", the judge said there was no evidence to suggest they wanted to carry out their plot.

"These conversations were quite plainly motivated by sexual lust - it could not be said that reality was any more probable than fantasy."

Lord Justice Laws added that Dyer and Hedgecock were acquitted of conspiracy to murder after discussing killing two girls like Soham victims Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman.

The judge observed that such an "inconsistent" verdict also suggested the jury were unsure where the line between fantasy and reality could be drawn.

Hedgecock had also asked Dyer to have sex with his wife when he was single and lived with his brother.

Declaring the convictions "unsafe", Lord Justice Laws said a "reasonable jury, properly directed" could only have acquitted as there was insufficient proof to show a real conspiracy.

Having pleaded guilty to the other offences, Dyer will now serve four years and Hedgecock and Mayers three years.