POLICE in the US have issued an arrest warrant for a North Yorkshire man who allegedly had sex with a 15-year-old girl he met in an Internet chat room.

James Horsfield, 36, of Leyburn, is wanted in connection with an alleged sexual assault on a child in Austin, Texas.

Mr Horsfield could now face extradition proceedings.

A police affidavit said Mr Horsfield flew to Denver via Chicago in July, then took a rented car to Texas.

It claimed Mr Horsfield remained in Austin for two weeks and allegedly had his first of several sexual encounters with the girl in his car on July 27.

Police said the girl told her mother what happened after Mr Horsfield returned to Britain, and she contacted police.

The affidavit states that Mr Horsfield first met the girl on the Internet more than two years ago.

British police have charged him with grooming a child and seized his computer, which they have turned over to Austin police.

A police spokesman said: "As a result of information received from the police in Austin, Texas, a 36-year-old man from the Leyburn area of North Yorkshire has been arrested for the alleged offence of grooming under the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

"He has now been released on police bail, pending further inquiries."

Mystery surrounded Mr Horsfield's whereabouts last night as people in Leyburn said they had not heard of him.

It is not known when extradition proceedings could begin.