A former Kamloops teacher who attempted to lure 13- and 14-year-old girls over the Internet for sexual purposes will spend the next nine months behind bars.

Brett Anthony Nelson pleaded guilty to luring charges last year and was sentenced on Monday, Jan. 23.

The 51-year-old, who was fired from his teaching job in 2004 after being convicted of a separate sex crime involving a Grade 11 female student, was also placed on a three-year probation term and ordered to register as a sex offender.

Kamloops provincial court Judge Hermann Rohrmoser said although no sexual contact took place stemming from the online luring, Nelson was "grooming" the girls for future encounters.

Nelson first met the 14-year-old victim after she posted an ad online seeking older men.

The two exchanged a number of sexually charged emails, including a nude photo of Nelson on his stomach.

They never met in person, but Nelson was introduced through her to the 13-year-old victim.

After a number of graphic email exchanges, the two met once in person. Nelson bought the teen a pack of cigarettes and gave her a ride to her elementary school.

The relationship ended when the 13-year-old girl's father found the cigarettes, traced them back to an older man and called police.

"We cannot say, of course, what might have happened with [the 13-year-old victim] had her father not intervened," Rohrmoser said.

During a hearing last week, defence lawyer Rob Bruneau said the 14-year-old girl's promiscuity — she claimed in emails to have been with 250 men — should be considered a mitigating factor.

However, Rohrmoser dismissed that notion, saying her potential "bad character" has no bearing on what Nelson did.

In 2004, the B.C. College of Teachers revoked Nelson's teaching certificate and terminated his membership after a jury found him guilty of sexual exploitation.

In that instance, he engaged in a sexual relationship with a Grade 11 student over a period of one month.

The sentencing judge in 2004 granted Nelson a conditional discharge, meaning he had no criminal record following the conviction despite the jury's finding of guilt.

Nelson is a former teacher at a Kamloops high school.

Court heard he has since worked as a contractor for Telus, but lost that job due to press coverage of the luring charges.

Once he gets out of jail, Nelson will be banned from going near parks, playgrounds, swimming pools or other places at which children might be expected to be present.

He will also be bound by an order barring him from using a computer to communicate with children.

After learning his sentence, before being led away by a courtroom sheriff, Nelson turned to his supporters in the gallery and winked.

In custody, he will be required to submit a sample of his DNA to a national criminal database.