A pervert sent sexual chats and pictures of himself to a police decoy he believed was an underage girl.
Samuel Mannion began chatting to what he thought was a 13-year-old child on Snapchat, and soon turned the conversation sexual. The 25-year-old then asked to see the girl's "bum and boobs" and sent explicit photographs and a lewd video of himself.
But what Mannion didn't know, was that he was in fact chatting to a police officer who had set up the fake Snapchat profile in order to capture perverts. Mannion, who had been sending the sex chats whilst in his then-girlfriend's home - was soon arrested.
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On Thursday, Mannion, of Poppy Drive, Blyth, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court to be sentenced for attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. The offence was committed on November 30 last year.
The court heard that a fake Snapchat profile of a 13-year-old girl called Freya was set up by police and Mannion - using a profile registered with his email address - soon made contact.
Emma Dowling, prosecuting, said: "The conversation took place over the course of less than a day. The defendant contacted her and said he was 22 and that she looked hot. She replied saying she had Covid. There was a short conversation before he said 'I'm so horny'."
Mannion continued on with his chats, despite the decoy telling him she was only 13 years old. He then sent pictures of his penis to her and asked if he could see her on camera. He then sent an explicit video of himself.
Ms Dowling said: "She said she was with her aunt and he asked her to go to the bathroom. He tried to call her and asked for pictures of her 'bum and boobs'."
Following the chats, Mannion was traced through his registered mobile phone number and officers discovered he had been using the wi-fi in his then-girlfriend's home. He was arrested at her house and he made no comment in interview, the court heard.
Mark Barlow, defending, said Mannion, who had no previous convictions, "behaved totally out of character" and that his actions were "foolish in a way he would not normally behave".
He said: "His relationship with his girlfriend is finished. Many of his friends have turned on him. He is in full-time employment and accepted his guilt. He pleaded guilty at the first opportunity...he has recognised his failings."
Recorder Toby Hedworth KC handed Mannion a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years and ordered him to carry out up to 40 rehabilitation days. He will be on the sex offenders' register for 10 years and a 10-year sexual harm prevention order was made.
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