A pervert who engaged in sex chats with what he thought were two 14-year-old girls online has been spared prison.
Andrew Maund believed he was talking to genuine schoolgirls but he had been duped by vigilantes Guardians of the North. Newcastle Crown Court heard Maund, posing as "Steven", contacted both decoy profiles within three days in June 2020.
The first one, who was on the Meetme app purporting to be an 18-year-old called Lou, went on to say she was 14 but that didn't put him off. He said he would like to kiss her and asked what she was wearing, telling her she was sexy and asking for photographs in her bra, which she refused.
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The second decoy profile, on dating app Badoo, also told Maund she was 14 and he said he wanted to kiss and cuddle her. When told she was home alone as her mum was at work, he said he would like to visit her.
He then outlined sexual acts he wanted to partake in with her, asked for pictures and sent a photograph of his genitals and made suggestive remarks about it.
Maund, 37, of St Rollox Street, Hebburn, South Tyneside, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted sexual communication with a child, one of attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity and possessing a small number of indecent images. He was sentenced to 21 months suspended for two years with rehabilitation and must do a sex offenders treatment programme. He will also be subject to a sexual harm prevention order and sex offender registration for ten years.
Robin Turton, defending, said: "He is remorseful and feels shame. He says he had difficulties at home and a sense of loneliness. He has now lost his job at Amazon."
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