Leeds pervert offered money to schoolgirl during online sex chat
An ageing paedophile who made sexual suggestions to a girl’s online profile has been spared custody.
Pervert Andrew Smith got in touch with the supposed girl in September last year, making the lewd comments and asking her 19 times for photos.
She repeatedly told him she was just 14, Leeds Crown Court heard.
However, the profile had been set up the paedophile hunter group, Protecting Our Kids Online.
During the nine days of conversation, the 61-year-old sent her a picture of his penis and tried to video call her. Prosecutor Louise Pryke said Smith “mentioned sending money”.
The hunter group confronted Smith at his home on Alva Close, Guiseley, before he was led away by police and arrested.
He then gave a no-comment interview.
Mitigating, Mollie Briggs said Smith was of previous good character, accepted full responsibility and had shown “significant remorse”.
She said he also had reading and writing difficulties.
Judge Geoffrey Marson KC gave Smith a 24-month community order, with 35 rehabilitation days.
He also put him on the sex offender register for five years and gave him a five-year sexual harm prevention order (SHPO).
He told him: “You have an interest in underage girls and it has to be deterred.”