A Clevedon man sent a nude photo of himself to a girl aged 14 online. But it was actually an adult decoy working for an undercover group.
Dean Jones started chats with 'Tia', who was actually a decoy acting for Elite Hunters. He told her to keep their chats secret, asked for photos of her and sent her photos of himself in underwear or naked.
Jones, 43, of Mantle Close, Clevedon, pleaded guilty to attempted sexual communication with a child. He appeared at Bristol Crown Court for sentence.
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The Recorder of Bristol His Honour Judge Peter Blair QC handed him a 12-month jail term suspended for two years, with rehabilitation. He told Jones: "You are engaging with probation, you are in work, you are capable of being rehabilitated and there is just sufficient basis to suspend the prison sentence that you so richly deserve."
Jones' mobile phone was forfeited. He was told to register his whereabouts to police for 10 years.
Nathan Toms, prosecuting, told the court Jones conversed with the supposed youngster from August 26 to September 17 last year. The court heard he asked if her mum was at home and offered her jewellery.
Mr Toms said: "He asked if she wanted a boyfriend. He said he could be her boyfriend.
"He said he was laying in bed, bored, 'doing adult things'. He requested she delete his messages and requested she use secret chat on Facebook."
The court heard Jones asked to meet the supposed girl for lunch and asked if he could visit her when her mum was at work. He asked her for a photo and the decoy provided a non-sexual image.
Mr Toms said Jones sent her images of himself in his underwear and nude. He then requested video chat and told her he could do a lewd act.
Elite Hunters visited Jones and carried out a citizen's arrest before calling police. Jones gave police a prepared statement in which he claimed he believed she was 16 and when he realised she was younger he stopped contact.
The court heard the inappropriate behaviour came shortly after Jones received a community order for having sexual communication with an actual child. Ehsanul Oarith, defending, said his client had undergone therapy since and had attained work.
He told the court Jones had joined groups in Bristol in a bid to build a pro-social life and reconnect with people around him. Mr Oarith said: "He says he needs accountability. He says if he doesn't have accountability he may fall back into the same behaviour pattern."
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