Michael Parr 41

Description

A pervert was caught by paedophile hunters sending sexually explicit messages to decoys posing as children, a court heard.

Michael Parr, 41, encouraged the 'girls'—actually adults—to perform sex acts on themselves and sent a naked photo of himself.

Over nearly two months, he messaged decoys pretending to be 12 and 14-year-old girls.

Prosecutor Dan Wilberforce said the group handed messages to police after Parr's arrest. He noted Parr sent a 'how to guide' for sexual behavior and photos, plus a genital image to one decoy.

Parr, of Middleham Close, Ouston, Chester-le-Street, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting sexual communication with a child and one of attempting to incite a child in sexual activity between September and October last year.

Defense lawyer Caroline McGurk said her client accepts punishment, but "his life has been blown apart and will never be the same again" after a violent attack injury led him to social media. She added: "When I read the messages to him, his embarrassment and shame were palpable." His offending cost his marriage, home, and job.

Judge Jonathan Carroll jailed Parr for 32 months for his "persistent and protracted" attempts.

He said:

"You had suffered an injury, you were at home suffering from a temporary disability, you were bored and you got involved in chat forums.

"You then ended up in communication with the first apparent child and the communication made it clear that she purported to be a 14-year-old. She was not a child; she was an adult putting herself online to catch people like you.

"You didn’t know you were dealing with an adult, you thought you were dealing with a child and the communication became sexual over an extended period of time."

Parr must sign the sex offenders’ register for life.