Norfolk sex offender attempted to contact teen girl

Nathan Webster, 32, who has previous convictions for making indecent images of children, had been sending instructions to the person - actually a decoy account - on what he wanted her to do.

Norwich Crown Court heard the decoy was pretending to be a 13-year-old girl.

Norwich Crown Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest) John Morgans, prosecuting, said the online conversation between the decoy and Webster soon turned sexual, with him sending her inappropriate videos.

Police were contacted by the vigilante group and police searched Webster's Old Catton address in December 2021.

Following the search a number of illicit images were found on devices belonging to him.

In total, police found two category A images - the most serious - as well as one category B image and 487 category C images.

Webster, of Players Way, Old Catton, appeared at court on Wednesday after admitting attempting to incite a girl under 16 to engage in penetrative sexual activity.

He also admitted three counts of making indecent images of a child.

Martin Ivory, mitigating, said the offences had been an "aberration" for Webster who had "fallen off the wagon in the most spectacular style".

The court heard it had been 10 years since Webster's previous sexual offences and the defendant had not offended again since his arrest in December 2021.

Mr Ivory said Webster, who deserved credit for his pleas, has had "significant mental health issues" and depression but helped care for his father who has multiple sclerosis.

Imposing a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years, Recorder Michael Turner said Webster had been "given an opportunity to get your life back on the straight and narrow".

Webster was also ordered to carry out up to 30 days Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR) as well as an accredited programme requirement for 24 months.

He has also been put on the sex offenders register for 10 years.