A barman sent naked pictures of himself to a "12-year-old girl" - but unbeknown to him, he was actually being caught in a sting by undercover police.
Louis Howard claimed to be aged 15 as he attempted to solicit indecent images from the decoy Snapchat account. The 22-year-old also collected a sick stash of videos of children being raped and distributed such materials online.
Liverpool Crown Court heard yesterday afternoon, Wednesday, that the university student sent a friend request to the profile - which was being operated by an officer from the regional crime squad - in October last year. Howard, of Trouville Road in Anfield, falsely stated that he was a 15-year-old boy, and over a four-week period "engaged in conversation which was evidently sexual".
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The paedophile asked the youngster for photographs of her naked and in her underwear, instructing her to take off her top and skirt. He also sent her pictures of himself in his boxers, then removed his pants and sent snaps of his penis - telling her: "You have made me very hot."
Merseyside Police then raided Howard's home, with the defendant being present and arrested. His mobile phone was seized, and was later found to contain 37 indecent images of children.
This included eight videos in category A, which are those graded as showing the most serious forms of abuse. Howard's vile collection also included a single category B picture and 25 category C images, as well as seven prohibited cartoon videos depicting children engaged in sexual activity.
Meanwhile, the pervert had posted one of the category A videos and seven category C images to messaging app Kik.
Howard, who works part-time at a bar three nights a week and is studying towards a degree, has no previous convictions. Peter Hussey, prosecuting, said: "The defendant has blotted his copybook fairly spectacularly."
Paul Wood, defending, told the court: "This defendant it would appear has, following a break-up of a relationship with his girlfriend approximately three years ago, descended into a period of poor mental health. He found himself effectively to be very isolated.
"By his conduct, he has put all he has in jeopardy. He accepts, and he is remorseful that, these offences were depraved and debauched in nature. He understands just how serious a position he has placed himself in. He is ashamed of his behaviour.
"He has sought to do all he possibly can to address the situation and sought help in relation to his mental health. He is ostensibly, in all other respects, a law-abiding citizen."
Howard admitted attempting to engage in sexual activity with a child, attempting to cause a child to watch sexual activity, attempting sexual communications with a child, two counts of distributing indecent images, possession of indecent images, three counts of making indecent images and possession of prohibited images. He was jailed for 26 months by Judge Stuart Driver KC.
A sexual harm prevention order and a notification requirement, both lasting 10 years, were also imposed. Howard was told to pay a victim surcharge, and forfeiture of his phone was ordered.
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