Charlie White 21

Description

A paedophile was ensnared when he sent a picture of his car's registration plates over Snapchat after recording a girl flashing him on webcam.

Charlie White was caught confessing to wanting "late night fun" with a 12-year-old child during an online sting. Once he was rumbled, the 20-year-old admitted to having a stash of indecent images on his phone - including a video showing him begging a teenager to lift up her top.

Liverpool Crown Court heard on Thursday, that he first contacted a Snapchat profile which, unbeknown to him, was being operated by undercover police on January 10 this year. White - operating on an account with the name "User127" - told the decoy, which was positing as a 12-year-old girl, that he was "looking for a friendly person to chat to".

David Watson, prosecuting, described how he said he was "looking for a friendly person to chat to". The following day, the defendant messaged saying he was "looking for a younger girl" and that "maybe they could have fun".

White, of Domville in Whiston, then sent a picture of his penis alongside the message "I hope we can have fun". When he was told the girl's supposed age, he replied: "I'm fine with it if you want to.

"It's up to you. It could be fun."

Giving a fake name of Josh, White asked for lewd pictures of the youngster and told her she was "cute" before requesting that she take a selfie in the bathroom. On January 13, he stated that he worked in a nightclub in St Helens while she gave her location as being in Exeter.

Contact continued the next day, when the pervert sent a photograph exposing himself with the caption: "Hope you like it. Maybe you can send too, I'd love to see your body."

White confessed to wanting to meet up with the schoolgirl and sent a picture showing his face, saying: "If it's ok with you, it's completely fine with me. You're stunning."

He said he wanted "late night fun" and went on to make a further request for indecent images after asking "how school was going". Despite being told he was making her "feel uncomfortable", White sent another photo of his genitals followed by six videos of him performing a sex act - telling her she should "give it a go".

Officers were able to identify him as the offender after he sent a picture of his car showing the registration plate. An Apple iPhone was seized upon his arrest at his home on March 8 and was found to contact a number of indecent pictures and videos.

Under interview, White stated that he had been trying to "relieve stress". While he denied having a sexual interest in children, he did say "he thought he needed help" and confessed that further materials would be found on the device.

When police examined the phone further, they discovered a recording of a video call captured on January 14. This showed White chatting with an unidentified girl, estimated to be aged between 12 and 14.

During the 24-second clip, he is seen to type in a chat box asking for a "flash" - at which point the youngster lifts up her top. The sex offender then messaged asking for more but the girl refused to show him her body any further.

White replied "worth a try" before she turned off the camera. He has no previous convictions.

Peter White, defending, told the court: "I accept there is little mitigation other than Mr White's prompt guilty plea and cooperation with the police. It does appear he was in difficult circumstances, but he accepts that is no justification for his behaviour.

"He is still a young man himself. He is still quite immature.

"He is an intelligent young man, a fairly polite and educated young person. This issue has shown its ugly head.

"He wants to accept any help so that it doesn't rear its ugly head again. He tells me he wishes to seek employment when his case is over.

"He wants to make something of his life and be a positive member of society. Hitherto, Mr White has been of previous good character."

White - who was supported by his mum, sister and partner in the public gallery - admitted inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, taking indecent images, attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity, attempting to cause a child to watch sexual activity, attempting sexual communications with a child, two counts of possession of indecent images and three counts of making indecent images. He was jailed for two years.

Sentencing, Recorder Richard Pratt KC said: "The level of coercion demonstrates, in my view, a serious sexual problem. It is to your credit that, not only did you plead guilty, but you indicated there may be further images on your phones.

"I have had regard to your age, your immaturity and the fact that you have no previous convictions at all. Your persistent denials do not bode well."

White was also handed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order. He will be required to sign the sex offenders' register for the same period.