A MAN who made sexual requests and suggestions to what he believed to be a 14-year-old girl online has avoided jail.

Robert Oatway, of Abergele Road in Old Colwyn, appeared at Mold Crown Court on Thursday.

The 37-year-old had previously admitted attempting to cause a child to engage in sexual activity, as well as attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child - the offences having take place between November 2020 and January the following year in Flintshire.

Frances Wilmott, prosecuting, said Oatway made contact with a person presenting as a young girl, but was actually an adult working to catch people targeting children.

Over the course of the offences, he made numerous sexual suggestions and requests, including photos of the 'girl' and asking if she wanted to meet him.

She made clear from the outset she was 14, but he persisted.

His behaviour was reported to the police and he was subsequently arrested and questioned.

Pictures of himself which he'd sent to the girl were found on his phone.

Robin Boag, defending, said his client has Asperger's Syndrome and while he seemed to operate at a high level in some aspects of his life - including his business management degree - in others such as relationships and social interaction he comes across as naive and immature.

Mr Boag said: "Mr Oatway is capable of engaging - clearly he does need some guidance with regards to his use of social media."

Recorder Simon Mills told the defendant: "You know what you did was seriously wrong.

"You believed you were talking to a 14-year-old girl.

"I have looked at the messages and pictures you sent - you really should be ashamed of yourself for doing it.

"If you'd been speaking to a child, it would have been very harmful; being subjected to the alcohol-driven sexual feelings of an adult man."

He handed down an eight month custodial sentence on each of the two counts to run concurrent - but suspended them for two years.

Oatway must undertake 45 days of rehabilitation activity and observe a 90 day alcohol abstinence and monitoring requirement.

He has also been made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years.

Make sure you don't miss the top court stories of the week by signing up to our free court newsletter