A paedophile who sent vulgar images of himself to a 13-year-old girl was told he should be ashamed.

Paul Ellis, 33, emailed the gross online messages to the girl, having asked her to keep the conversation "our little secret".

But Ellis was actually in contact with an undercover police officer.

And, having been snared in the sting, he was charged with attempting to cause a child to look at an image of sexual activity.

He admitted at the offence and was sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court.

Prosecutor Roger Brown confirmed that Ellis sent messages using an internet dating site.

"He made contact with what was actually a police constable," said Mr Brown.

At one stage the "girl" told Ellis she was aged 13 and would soon be 14.

Yet Ellis continued his discussions in terms which the court heard became "flirtatious and crude".

He referred to her as "sexy", asking her to keep their communication a secret and that "nobody else needs to know anything".

Mr Brown said: "The Crown's case is that this was grooming and leading to something more suspicious."

Ellis then sent a number of sexually explicit images of himself, telling the girl: "Just don't show your mum in a hurry."

When later arrested he admitted the sexualised chat.

Paul Tweddle, defending, accepted that Ellis's offence "does cross the custody threshold".

Attempting to explain Ellis's reasons for committing the crime, Mr Tweddle said: "He concedes that it was sexual gratification."

Ellis was also said to be a "lonely and solitary individual".

Having heard background information, Judge Peter Davies imposed a three-year community order.

Ellis, of Myddleton Street, Carlisle, was given a night-time curfew, a 40-day rehabilitation requirement and recommended for a sex offender treatment programme. He was also made subject to the terms of a sexual harm prevention order.

He told Ellis: "This was disgusting. You should be ashamed of yourself."

But the judge, told that he was "not without the possibility of help", added: "I would rather you offered that help now by the appropriate agency in a non-custodial environment than going to custody.

"First of all it is cheaper. Second, and most importantly than that must is likely to protect young girls."