Colin Christensen 57

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Colin Christensen, of North Shields, who worked in Tynemouth, admitted two offences of attempted sexual communication with a child

A chef who tried to prey on underage girls on Facebook has been spared prison.

Colin Christensen befriended what he thought were two girls aged 14 and sent illegal messages to them and a picture of his genitals.

A court heard the profiles were being run by a vigilante group called the Child Online Safety Team.

Christensen, a grandfather who lives with his mother, made contacted with the profile of a girl in January this year.

Despite being told she was 14, the 55-year-old, who lied that he was 36, asked for a photograph of her in her school uniform, which was refused.

Kate Barnes, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court : "He asked what she wore to bed and if she thought about sex. She said no, she was too young.

"The conversation continued and he went on to ask for pictures and asked what kind of underwear she wore."

Christensen sent a picture of his penis then later asked if she was offended or aroused by it.

He also asked her to take a camera in the shower with her and made reference to her genitals.

Around the same time, Christensen made contact with the Facebook profile of someone purporting to be a 14-year-old.

It was a profile being run by the same vigilante group.

He again asked for a photograph of her in school uniform, asked what she was wearing then asked her sexual questions.

The court heard he said he couldn't have sex with her unless she agreed and told her the first time might hurt.

Christensen, of Murton Lane, North Shields, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

Judge Robert Adams sentenced him to nine months suspended for two years with sex offender registration and a sexual harm prevention order for ten years.

The court heard he lost his job of 36 years as a chef at a pub in Tynemouth and is pessimistic about finding employment, given his conviction.

Mark Harrison, defending, said Christensen had an "appropriate level of shame".

He added: "He has had to have a difficult conversation with his mother, -who relies on him for her day-to day care.

"His only ambition is to be allowed to carry on with that care."