A WORKINGTON man repeatedly tried to communicate sexually with girls as young as 12, unaware that he was messaging undercover police officers.

Stuart Thompson, 34, sent some of the 'girls' pictures of his genitals - despite them clearly stating their age as 13, Carlisle Crown Court heard. The defendant admitted five counts of attempting to communicate sexually with a child.

Prosecutor Andrew Evans outlined how the defendant committed two sets of offences – three of them involving undercover police officers.

When one of the girls told him on a chat site that she was 13, he responded with: “Don’t worry; I’m into younger girls.”

The girl’s clear statement of her age did not appear to deter Thompson, said Mr Evans.

“He calls her very beautiful,” said the barrister.

In yet another conversation, the defendant unwittingly chatted sexually with an undercover police officer posing as a 13-year-old. He encouraged her to remove her clothing and he talked with her about a possible meeting in Preston.

“He told her not to tell anyone as he could get into trouble and be sent to jail,” continued Mr Evans. He told her he could 'touch her' if she wanted him to and then asked her to send him naked pictures of herself.

Thompson also spoke about having sex with the girl.

Even after the defendant was arrested and charged with the first set of offences, he continued trying to make contact online with girls, and at this stage sent one of them – another undercover officer – a picture of his penis.

Mark Shepherd, for Thompson, of Guard Street, Workington, said prison was not necessarily the best option; a community sentence could provide a more constructive alternative that would better protect the public.

A sex offender treatment programme would help the defendant.

Mr Shepherd said Thompson acknowledged that he was motivated by a desire for sexual gratification but he had suffered significant trauma during his childhood and had lost the one person who were there for him during the pandemic, his grandmother.

“He describes himself as an isolated individual,” said Mr Shepherd.

Judge Guy Mathieson told the defendant: “You were trying to get as many sexual thrills as you could; you were persistent in your messages to them."

The judge said he was baffled that any young person would regard sending such intimate pictures over the internet as in some way appropriate conduct.

“It’s not,” said the judge. He told Thompson: “Nobody wants to see pictures of your penis, thank you.”

But the judge accepted that society can be better protected by addressing the defendant’s behaviour through a sex offender treatment option. “Does it help society in the longer run if you come out [of prison] in six to twelve months and still have those thought processes? You need to have that rewired.

“You have one chance; that’s it.”

The judge imposed a three year community order with 20 rehabilitation activity days which will include an accredited programme of treatment. Thompson will have his name on the Sex Offender Register.

As the defendant wept with relief, the judge told him: “Don’t let me down.”