A pervert sent indecent nude images to who he thought was a teenager telling them "look at my little willy". Terry Yates, a married man, sent a number of nude images to the girl he thought was 14, however, the account was actually run by as part of a paedophile hunter sting.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that the former Amazon warehouse worker sent a friend request to the account in May of this year and began messaging them in June. The 39-year-old was told from the outset by the account that she was 14 but he still sent her messages saying she was 'gorgeous' and 'his beautiful princess', LiverpoolECHO reports.
Prosecutor Olivia Beesley said that Yates, from Warrington, asked her to 'look at my tiny willy' before sending the account a video of him 'wiggling' his penis around. He also asked the girl to send him pictures of herself in a school uniform and record herself telling him he "had a tiny willy".
READ MORE: Gunshots blasted at house in Manchester in 'targeted' attack - latest updates
The account replied to Yates saying that she had never seen a penis before the girl received an image of a man's genitals from another account under a fake name, which was run by Yates, the court heard. Yates then sent a message from his own profile saying: "Have you seen any willy lol?"
On July 2 Yates was confronted by the paedophile group at his Birchwood home before he was arrested. His wedding is now in the process of being annulled despite only tying the knot in June.
Jeremy Rawson, defending, told the court: "What is clear is that there is an acceptance of wrong, remorse and insight into the consequences of his offending and remorse at what could have happened. He understands quite clearly, had this been a real individual, then he could not live with himself for what he'd done - he accepts that his marriage is over, precisely for the reasons he was brought before the court today."
Mr Rawson added that his client had suffered from mental health problems, saying: "In that particular dark place, he wasn't thinking about the consequences of his actions. The man in the dock, prior to this foolhardy, reckless and stupid activity, had a wife, a house, a job, a family and friends - he has managed to keep his house and obtain employment, but all those other ostentations passed him by and he is effectively alone."
Yates admitted attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child but was spared jail, instead being handed an eight-month imprisonment suspended for two years. He was also handed 100 hours of unpaid work plus a sexual harm prevention order and a notification requirement, both lasting 10 years.
Recorder Mark Ainsworth imposed a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 25 days and a programme requirement, as well as ordering a victim surcharge to be paid. Sentencing, the judge said: "The facts of this case are frankly appalling.
"This is what every parent fears. This is the sort of behaviour that causes outrage and disgust within society, and understandably so.
"It is clear that she made it known to you that she was 14 years of age, and yet you persevered. I treat you as a man of effectively good character, but of course that has been lost completely by the commission of this offence.
"The impact on you will be significant. It means, effectively, that your marriage has come to an end.
"I can ensure you receive the help and treatment you would clearly benefit from to ensure that this is not repeated in future. Whether you serve that sentence is a matter entirely for you.
"If, for the next two years, you remain out of trouble then you can put this matter behind you and move on with your life. If you commit any further offence, you should expect to serve that eight-month sentence."
For more of today's top stories click here.
READ NEXT:
