A BASINGSTOKE man has been given a suspended sentence for sending messages of a sexual nature to a decoy Facebook account he believed to be a 13-year-old girl.

Mark Lee, of Andover Road, Deane, was given a suspended sentence of eight months at Winchester Crown Court today (Monday) after he pleaded guilty to attempted sexual communication with a child.

The court heard that Lee had sent a friend request to a decoy account managed by Fleetwood Enforcement UK, who manage profiles and conversations. They allow adults to make contact and then provide police with evidence.

The judge was told that Lee sent explicit messages to the account, as well as naked photos of himself. He arranged to meet the fake person, only to be met by people from Fleetwood Enforcements.

Lee had previously pleaded guilty to the offence, which took place in March last year, at Basingstoke Magistrate's Court.

The court heard examples of messages Lee had sent. He asked the girl for her breast, waist and bra size. He tried to call her several times and and made it clear to not tell anyone.

Prosecuting, Matt Lawson said: "He made a full admission to police, but he knew the girl he thought he was speaking to was 13. There were aggravating factors here. He sent a sexual image of himself, he believed the child was 13 and suggested they meet."

Mitigating, Katie Williams said: "No harm was caused here. He was speaking to an adult man. This was out of character, he has no history of any offences of this nature. Sending him to prison would mean he could not come to terms with it and how to avoid it in the future."

Judge Susan Evans QC said: "You groomed 'Stacey', sending sexual messages and told her not to tell anyone and asked for intercourse. You believed you were talking to a 13-year-old girl.

"You arranged to meet in Enfield when the matter was referred to police."

Lee was also told to complete the Horizon programme - for medium risk sex offenders - do 30 days of rehabilitation and 120 hours of unpaid work.

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