Paedophile jailed after sending explicit messages to vigilantes posing as 13-year-old girl

A man who sent naked pictures of himself to vigilantes posing online as a 13-year-old girl has been jailed for 12 months.

Paul Platten, 38, from Wincanton, Somerset, was snared by a paedophile hunting team and evidence of the sting was handed to police.

After arranging to meet the girl on the fake social media profile with the name 'Sarah Rose', he was confronted at his home by two members of the group and police were called.

Platten later admitted four charges in connection with the messages.

Platten, who has no previous convictions, was jailed for 12 months at Taunton Crown Court and ordered to register as a sex offender for 10 years.

Judge James Patrick told him: "You sent to someone you thought was a 13-year-old girl a number of photographs of you naked.

"In my judgment these offences are so serious that they warrant an immediate custodial sentence."

Prosecuting, Caroline Bolt said Platten initially engaged in innocent conversation on March 9 but sent his mobile phone number the following day.

"It was made very clear that Sarah was 13," she said.

"He sent five naked photographs of himself, two of which included his face.

"As the communication progressed there was clear grooming of the supposed 13-year-old."

Ms Bolt said Platten arranged to meet the girl in London, where he believed she lived, but called it off.

Platten admitted three charges of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity, on March 17, 19 and 20.

He also pleaded guilty to a charge of attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child.