A perverted oil rig worker who tried to have online sex chats with underage girls has been jailed.
Alex Elder, who has worked as an offshore engineer around the world, thought he was talking to a 13-year-old and a 14-year-old but in fact he had fallen into a trap set by paedophile hunters.
Newcastle Crown Court Elder encouraged both children to carry out sex acts on themselves during the sickening conversations and sent pictures of his penis to them. Prosecutor Andrew Walker told the court: "Between November 18 2020 and December 6 2020 the defendant made contact with what he thought were two female
children online and engaged them in sexual conversations."
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The court heard a group called Secrets and Lies were behind the fake profile of a female called Sophie, which said she was 18, on a social media site called UK Social. Mr Walker told the court: "It was made clear to the defendant she was in fact 14. Contact moved to WhatsApp."
Mr Walker said after Elder was told that Sophie was 14, his response was to ask if she had any "sexy pics of her in her underwear" and added: "He asked if she had ever had sex and asked how her day at school had been.
"She reminded him she was 14." The court heard Elder asked about the teen's body and said he was "horny"
before the conversation turned graphic.
Mr Walker added: "He said it was nice to talk to her, to teach her naughty things." Elder went on to say he wanted to have sex with the teen, although he knew it was "bad" and when reminded she was just 14 he said: "But if no-one knew would you like to try it?"
Mr Walker said Elder contacted the second girl on a different social media site named Chat Hour. This time, a group called No Excuses were behind the decoy profile of a female called Paige, which said she was 18 but Elder was later told she was actually just 13.
Mr Walker said: "The defendant had initially said she was way too young as he was looking for sex. "He then asked her to move to WhatsApp, after asking what she was looking for.
"He said he wasn't bothered she was 13." Mr Walker said the conversation with Paige also turned graphic and Elder
claimed he was having sex at her age before asking if she would "like to try".
Elder, 44, of Wardley Lane, Gateshead, admitted two charges of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and two of attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity. Judge Edward Bindloss jailed him for 28 months and said he accepted Elder's behaviour was a "one off" and added: "No child was actually harmed, thank goodness".
Elder was ordered to sign the sex offenders register and abide by a sexual harm prevention order for ten years.
David Callan, defending, said the offending happened during the pandemic, when Elder was unable to work, had just split from his partner and became depressed. Mr Callan added: "He felt very isolated, very alone. He took to drink and drink got a hold of him."
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