A WREXHAM man has been jailed after engaging in sexualised chat with what he believed to be a 13-year-old schoolgirl online.

Andrew Lloyd, of Pont y Capel Lane in Gresford, appeared at Mold Crown Court on Wednesday for sentencing.

The 37-year-old had previously been convicted of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, attempting to cause a child to watch an image of sexual activity and attempting to cause a child to engage in sexual activity.

Anna Price, prosecuting, told the court that in May last year an undercover police officer made a profile with the name and image of a young girl on various social media platforms.

In October, the decoy account was messaged by Lloyd.

He was told he was talking to a 13-year-old, but said he was happy to continue with the conversation and told her he wouldn't send her anything inappropriate.

But later he sent her a picture of his legs in the bath, making reference to ensuring sure his genitals didn't "pop out of the bubbles."

He asked her for a photo in return, but said she 'could keep her underwear on.'

In mid-October, when Lloyd asked once again for a photo, the officer sent a photo of a female in a school uniform.

Lloyd responded by asking her to lift her top up.

He then added her to a photo sharing group, where he posted pictures of a naked male and a video of a male committing a sex act.

Police arrested him towards the end of October and he smashed his phone before being taken to the police station, telling officers he thought they were there to talk to him about drugs.

Henry Hills, defending, said: "He indicates shame at his behaviour. He made no attempt to arrange direct contact.

"The communication lasted a limited time period and there's no criminal record for similar offending behaviour."

Mr Hills asked the court to consider a suspended sentence in his client's case.

But Recorder John Philpotts handed him a two year sentence for the offences, to be served immediately.

He said: "You knew perfectly well, or you thought you knew, how old this person was.

"In a short time, the conversation turned to the sending and receiving of images.

"These were blatant, deliberate offences involving a very young female child - or at least that's what you thought."

Lloyd was also made the subject of an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.