Man caught by two online paedophile stings

Karl Johnston was sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court

A man was caught trying to send sexual messages to children by online paedophile hunters months after being trapped in a police sting, a court has heard.

Karl Johnston, 31, sent naked pictures of himself to what he thought was an underage girl in December, Newcastle Crown Court was told.

After being caught by police and while awaiting prosecution, he did the same thing to what he thought was a 14-year-old girl which was another online set-up.

Johnston, of Beaconsfield Street, Newcastle, was jailed for a year suspended for two years, after admitting two counts of attempting to have sexual communications with a child.

The court heard he made contact with a profile of a girl run by police on Chatiw on 6 December.

His profile appeared to be that of a 22-year-old woman, but in the chat he claimed he was a 14-year-old boy from Newcastle and his messages soon turned sexual.

Police were able to identify him after he sent nude pictures and the account was linked to his address, the court heard.

After being arrested and while awaiting prosecution, he contacted a decoy profile set up by a group called the Child Safety Online Team, with his messages following a similar pattern to those he sent to officers, the court was told.

The group sent his messages to police and he was arrested again.

Recorder Dapinder Singh KC said Johnston would have to undergo intensive work with the probation service.

Johnston must also sign the sex offenders' register for 10 years and was made subject of a sexual harm prevention order.