A MAN who wanted to pay £1,000 to meet up with a teenage girl has avoided jail.

Levi Jackson, 24, of Emmanuel Grove in Cefn Mawr, appeared at Mold Crown Court on Thursday, January 7 for attempting to cause a girl to engage in sex activity, attempting to cause a child to look at an image of sexual activity and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

Prosecuting Owen Edwards said between May 24 and June 16 last year, Jackson communicated with someone he believed to be 14, who was in fact a decoy set up by a paedophile hunter group.

Jackson made contact with the decoy, who told him she was 14 and he began talking to her.

Mr Edwards said Jackson suggested they speak on the phone and he "called her hot and sexy" and "wanted to talk naughty".

He asked her if she had "seen a big c**k" and asked if she wanted to see him "playing with his monster".

The court also heard how he offered her £1,000 to spend the weekend with him and not tell anyone.

Mr Edwards went on to say on May 28, more messages were sent, and he requested images of her and the messages "turned sexual".

Jackson carried on messaging the decoy who reminded him she was 14.

In June he sent her "pictures of his penis" and "encouraged her to speak about sexual matters".

On June 16, volunteers from the paedophile hunter group attended his home address and live streamed the confrontation on Facebook.

The police also attended and Jackson "said it was not an offence to speak to a minor".

However, when taken into custody he answered "no comment" when interviewed.

Defending, Henry Hills said he was an "immature individual" who takes "full responsibility" and knows of the "shame brought on himself and his family".

However, he argued Jackson was someone who could be "effectively managed in the community".

Judge Niclas Parry said Jackson "chose to target someone he genuinely believed to be 14".

He added he "sought to groom her" and "gain her trust" by complimenting her appearance and in no time invited her to speak on the telephone and to meet but to "keep the encounter secret".

He added: “You offered her money, I doubt very much you had that kind of money.”

Judge Parry said the communication "became sexual" but said where "access to young girls is so easy and difficult to deter", the court will "always view these matters seriously".

The court heard how, in mitigation, there was no real victim and no harm caused.

When sentencing, Judge Parry gave credit and accepted he was "genuinely remorseful" and took into account the coronavirus pandemic which makes custodial sentences "more onerous".

He added Jackson had made voluntary changed to reduce future risks of harm.

Jackson was given a 16-month custodial sentence, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work and rehabilitation activity.

A sexual harm prevention order was also made and notification requirements.

Judge Parry said: “Take this chance.

“There is support as well as punishment.”