A pervert claimed his friends had sent a string of lewd messages to a girl from his Facebook account in a "practical joke" after being caught in a paedophile hunter sting.
Robert Youds told the supposed 13-year-old she was "stunning" and asked to have a bath with her during the sickening chats. But, unbeknown to him, he was actually messaging a decoy account set up as part of an online ruse - and was ultimately dobbed in by his own mum.
Liverpool Crown Court heard this afternoon, Tuesday, that the 31-year-old sent a friend request to a profile set up by the Guardians of the North group, purporting be that of the youngster, in March 2018. Simon Parry, prosecuting, said that Facebook Messenger communications between them began "innocently" but "developed into overtly sexual conversation".
