A pervert who thought he was sending naked pictures of himself to an underage girl on Snapchat was actually messaging undercover police.
Anthony Lightfoot began sending sexual messages to what he believed was a 13-year-old girl called Holly - but the 41-year-old married dad-of-one was actually chatting to an undercover officer who'd set up the fake profile to snare perverts. Lightfoot asked the girl about her breasts and told her to keep their conversations a secret.
Lightfoot, of West Auckland, appeared at Durham Crown Court to be sentenced for attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child. He pleaded guilty to the charge at a previous hearing.
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Christopher Wood, prosecuting, said Lightfoot entered into conversations with what he believed was a 13-year-old girl called Holly on the Kik messaging app between July and August last year. Holly was in fact a fake profile set up by an undercover police officer. Dr Wood said: "He was working from home and introduced himself. She replied saying she was 13 from the outset. He said he had a job and told her to make the most of her time she had left at school."
Lightfoot began sending over pictures of his dog, with a message: "A dog pic rather than a d*** pic". He then started sending kisses, despite only talking to the decoy for an hour. He also said: "I don't mind you're 13 for chatting, beyond that we will have to see". Dr Wood said that Lightfoot's messages soon turned sexual, and he asked the girl if she'd ever sent "rude pics" and "asked about her breasts".
Dr Wood said that during one chat, Lightfoot discussed "what he'd like to do do to her with food products" and that he'd like to see her in a short dress. He also discussed potentially meeting up over the school holidays and said he wanted to "kiss and cuddle her and make love to her". The court heard that Lightfoot mentioned he "could be her first".
Dr Wood said: "He told her he needs to be careful as he would get into more trouble than her and that it would have to be a secret." Lightfoot then sent the decoy girl naked pictures of himself over Snapchat. On August 28 last year, Lightfoot, who had no previous convictions, was arrested and remained silent in interview.
Tony Davis, defending, said Lightfoot "pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity" and was "determined to address his offending behaviour". He added that Lightfoot is married and has a young child.
Judge James Adkin, the Recorder of Durham, sentenced Lightfoot to 10 months prison, suspended for two years and ordered him to complete 20 rehabilitation days. He must also complete a 90 day sex offender programme and was made subject of a 10 year sexual harm prevention order. He will also be on the sex offender's register for 10 years.
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