Marc Moore 35

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A WORKINGTON man who badgered a person he believed was a 12-year-old girl for naked photos has been put on the Sex Offender Register.

Thirty-four-year-old Marc Moore was communicating with the “girl” online and completely unaware that he was actually sending messages to an under-cover police officer, Carlisle Crown Court heard.

He admitted attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

Prosecutor Brendan Burke said the offending happened  over three weeks in April last year after the under cover officer, posing as a child online, received a friend request from Moore, and this led to a series of messages between the two.

“The main theme was that he was trying to harass her into sending him naked pictures of herself,” said Mr Burke. “He tried to encourage her by sending what he pretended was a picture of himself, fully clothed on the street.

“It was certainly not [a picture] of the defendant. It was a much younger looking man.”

Mr Burke said Moore “persistently” asked the girl for naked pictures and he also asked her for Snapchat contacts for her friends so that he could communicate with them also. He repeatedly “solicited” the girl for images.

Judith McCullough, for Moore, said he had been a hard-working family man, living in his one home and enjoying a varied and active life.

“But he has through his own actions brought that world crashing down; these proceedings have been a salutary lesson. But these offences are out of character, and he has pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.”

Miss McCullough said the offending happened over a “relatively short period.” She said Moore had not actively sought out a child’s profile and there was no indication in his internet browsing history that caused concern.

Moore, of Cavendish Court, Workington, lost his job as a result of his arrest but his old employer had indicated that his employment would be open to him once the case was concluded.

The prosecution had also placed his marriage under considerable strain.  Miss McCullough added: “He is deeply ashamed of his actions and very sorry for the hurt and upset that he has caused.”

Judge Nicholas Barker said he had read the messages and the under cover officer, in the messages sent to Moore, had made it plain she was a 12-year-old girl. “You knew that to be the case,” said the judge. “You said you were 32; she said she was 12. You said: “Really?” She said: “Yes. Why?

“The communication continued and it’s right when the prosecution say that you were persistent in the way in which you engaged with her, asking for ‘cheeky picture;’ asking her to send pictures to you with no clothes on.”

The judge accepted that Moore had shown remorse but said he suspected it was for having found himself in this position before the court. But Judge Barker said he was satisfied there is a prospect of rehabilitation.

He imposed a three year community order, which will include a sex offender treatment programme  and 15 rehabilitation activity days and 150 hours of unpaid work. Moore will be on the Sex Offender Register for five years and will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for the same period.

The prosecution offered no evidence on two further allegation that Moore downloaded six Category C indecent child images and a charge that he possessed four extreme pornographic images. He was declared not guilty of those two offences.