A WREXHAM man has avoided jail after admitting sending sexual messages to what he believed was a child on an app.

Lee Antony Murphy, of Farmhouse Mews, appeared at Mold Crown Court for sentencing on Thursday.

The 29-year-old had already admitted having attempted to engage in sexual communication with a child, as well as attempting to cause a child to look at an image of sexual activity.

Simon Rogers, prosecuting, told the court the offences arose from Murphy’s use of an app with which he contacted what he believed to be a 13-year-old girl.

In reality, he was talking to an undercover police officer.

The conversations took place between March 25 and September 7 last year.

Murphy initially made contact and said the child looked “really cute” but when told she was 13, he apologised and ended the conversation.

About three months later he started the conversation again and asked if the girl was interested in casual sex.

He was reminded he was talking to a 13-year-old and again he apologised.

One week later he opened a chat to ask if the girl would perform a sex act on him.

He also asked for a picture of her, and sent a picture of a penis.

Police executed a search warrant at his address on October 22 last year.

He was arrested and cautioned, and on the way to the police station he told officers; “I know what I’ve done. I know I am guilty of what you’re going to talk to me about,” the court heard.

In interview he made admissions stating he knew he was talking to a 13-year-old girl.

Jemma Gordon, defending, said: “Mr Murphy knows the serious nature of the offences and that he is facing a custodial sentence.

“He seems motivated to engage in open discussion and rehabilitative work.”

“He fully admitted what he had done.”

Judge Rhys Rowlands told Murphy: “You believed you were messaging a 13-year-old girl. You thought nothing of trying to corrupt her.

“Had there been a child, as you believed and intended, potentially very great harm would have been caused to her.”

Judge Rowlands said Murphy had been assessed as suitable for work to address his “distorted thinking.”

Murphy was handed an eight month custodial sentence for attempting to cause a child to look at an image of a sex act, but suspended it for two years.

No separate penalty was imposed for the attempted sexual communication, but Murphy was ordered to undertake 45 sessions on a programme and 30 days of rehabilitation activity.

He was also made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order.