A pervert befriended a '14-year-old girl' on Facebook and told her "look at my little willy".
Married man Terry Yates sent naked pictures and videos to the supposed teenager in a string of lewd online chats. But, unbeknown to him, the Amazon warehouse worker was actually being ensnared in a paedophile hunter sting.
Liverpool Crown Court heard yesterday, Monday, that the 39-year-old sent a friend request to the profile operated by paedophile hunters on May 5 this year. Yates subsequently began messaging the so-called teen on June 3.
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Olivia Beesley, prosecuting, described how he was informed from the outset that she was aged 14 but still told her she was "gorgeous" and said she was "his beautiful princess". The paedophile asked the girl to send him a video of her "giggling" and "repeatedly made references to his tiny willy".
Yates, from Warrington, asked her to "look at my tiny willy" and sent her a video of him "wiggling" his penis around, as well as a fully nude photograph. He also requested that she send him pictures of herself in her school uniform and record herself telling him he "had a tiny willy".
The schoolgirl replied that she had never seen a penis before, but soon afterwards was sent an image of a man's genitals from an account under a fake name, which was being operated by the defendant. Yates sent another message from his own profile within minutes, saying: "Have you seen any willy lol?"
On July 2, group members confronted him at his home on Whitworth Close in Birchwood and called the police - who attended and arrested him. He was only wed in June, but his marriage is now in the process of being annulled.
Yates also lost his employment with Amazon due to his offending, although he has since found new work in the warehousing sector. He spent a month in custody before being granted bail, and has one previous conviction for handling stolen goods in 2004.
Jeremy Rawson, defending, told the court: "What is clear is that there is an acceptance of wrong, remorse and insight into the consequences of his offending and remorse at what could have happened. He understands quite clearly, had this been a real individual, then he could not live with himself for what he'd done - he accepts that his marriage is over, precisely for the reasons he was brought before the court today."
Mr Rawson added that his client had suffered from mental health problems, saying: "In that particular dark place, he wasn't thinking about the consequences of his actions. The man in the dock, prior to this foolhardy, reckless and stupid activity, had a wife, a house, a job, a family and friends - he has managed to keep his house and obtain employment, but all those other ostentations passed him by and he is effectively alone."
Yates admitted attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child but was spared jail, instead being handed an eight-month imprisonment suspended for two years. He was also handed 100 hours of unpaid work plus a sexual harm prevention order and a notification requirement, both lasting 10 years.
Recorder Mark Ainsworth imposed a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 25 days and a programme requirement, as well as ordering a victim surcharge to be paid. Sentencing, the judge said: "The facts of this case are frankly appalling.
"This is what every parent fears. This is the sort of behaviour that causes outrage and disgust within society, and understandably so.
"It is clear that she made it known to you that she was 14 years of age, and yet you persevered. I treat you as a man of effectively good character, but of course that has been lost completely by the commission of this offence.
"The impact on you will be significant. It means, effectively, that your marriage has come to an end.
"I can ensure you receive the help and treatment you would clearly benefit from to ensure that this is not repeated in future. Whether you serve that sentence is a matter entirely for you.
"If, for the next two years, you remain out of trouble then you can put this matter behind you and move on with your life. If you commit any further offence, you should expect to serve that eight-month sentence."
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