Leeds pervert arrested at his home after sending sex pictures of himself to '13-year-old girl'

Gareth Feeney also asked to meet the 'youngster' and discussed having sex with her.

Leeds Crown Court heard Feeney was in fact communicating with an adult woman who had created a fake Facebook profile designed to catch paedophiles.

The 33-year-old sent a series of graphic sexually explicit messages, on one occasioning telling the girl he was 'wearing our lasses' thong'.

Robert Stevenson, prosecuting, said Feeney first made contact with the decoy Facebook profile on November 2, 2019.

He commented on her picture, describing her as "fit", then asked if she had a boyfriend.

Feeney, of Bawn Avenue, Farnley, continued sending messages despite being told the girl only 13 years old.

Feeney went on to ask her to be his girlfriend but said other people could not find out about them.

He asked her for a WhatsApp number then asked her to send him a picture of her toes before sending explicit images of himself.

Feeney was arrested on April 11 and made no comment in interview but accepted that he had behaved inappropriately.

Charles Blatchford, mitigating, said the offending took place at a time when Feeney was suffering from depression following a family tragedy.

Mr Blatchford said his client pleaded guilty to the offences at an early stage and had stopped drinking alcohol since he was arrested.

Feeney was given a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.

He was ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid work and complete 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days.