A man who sent indecent pictures to an adult posing as a 14-year-old girl was cornered by vigilantes as he tried to sell a guitar.
Craig Telfer later protested to police officers that he would “never dream of hurting kids”.
Telfer, 42, formerly of Newmains, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court this week.
He admitted sending images and messages of a sexual nature to an adult he thought was a child in November 2020.
Vish Kathuria, prosecuting, said members of the Maximum Exposure group set up a fake online profile under the name ‘Amy’.
Telfer made contact and soon his chats with the adult decoy became “sexualised”.
He sent indecent images and asked for “naughty” pictures in return.
Mr Kathuria told the court: “One of the group members discovered the accused had a Facebook profile and was selling guitars.
“He contacted the accused and said he was interested in a purchase.
“This led to a sting with Maximum Exposure members confronting the accused at a car park in Chapelhall.
“Thereafter the accused was arrested and he told officers ‘I have kids. I would never dream of hurting kids’.”
Officers seized his phone and found some of the pictures that he had sent.
Sheriff Thomas Millar deferred sentence on Telfer, now of Easterhouse, Glasgow, until next month for background reports and a risk assessment.
He had his bail continued and was placed on the sex offenders’ register.
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