Paedophile boasted to teenage boy about being naked in his outdoor hot tub at Leeds home

Andrew Studden was already on a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) to monitor his internet use which was imposed in 2023.

That was similar offending, in which he tried to sexually communicate with a young boy.

The 58-year-old was returned to Leeds Crown Court when he admitted charges of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, inciting a child into sexual activity and breach of his SHPO.

Prosecutor Elizabeth Noble said on October 31 this year, Studden contacted the boy’s profile on Facebook.

He told Studden he was just 13. The profile was in fact set up by a paedophile hunter group, The Underworld, who look to draw out predators looking for children online.

Studden turned the conversation sexual, asking him about his sexuality and if he had experimented or had feelings for the boy’s male friends.

He talked about his hot tub in his garden and that he would go in naked. Studden also talked about a boy that he had staying with him, and that the boy would watch him in the shower.

He then asked the decoy profile if he masturbated and encouraged him.

He was arrested after a week of swapping messages, with the hunter group contacting the police.

Studden largely refused to answer questions during his interview.

His internet devices were analysed and showed he had auto deleted his messages, which put him in breach of the SHPO.

Studden, previously of Coniston Gardens, Halton, but was now of no fixed address, appeared in court via a video link from HMP Leeds.

Mitigating, Jemima Stephenson-Finn said Studden “deeply regrets” his actions and had entered early guilty pleas.

She said that he was “socially isolated” and had suffered traumatic experiences as a child himself.

Judge Simon Phillips KC jailed Studden for 20 months, gave him a new 10-year SHPO and put him on the sex offender register for 10 years.