GATESHEAD MAN SPARED JAIL AFTER ONLINE SEX CHATS WITH 'UNDERAGE GIRLS'
A middle-aged pervert who told what he thought was a 13-year-old girl he wanted to take her virginity has been spared prison.Martin Curry engaged in sexual communication online with two underage profiles - but they were being run by vigilante paedophile hunters.
Newcastle Crown Court heard when one of the girls online told Curry sex was for adults, he disagreed, saying it was for boys and girls of all ages.
Andrew Walker, prosecuting, said: "He communicated with what he thought were 13 and 14-year-old girls via social media but they were false profiles set up by an organisation called Strike UK, set up to identify adults prepared to meet or communicate sexually with children." Curry contacted a profile called Carly last October on Meet4U and was told she was 14.
He described Carly as gorgeous and beautiful.
He told Carly he wanted to have sex with her.
She told him she was shocked, she was only 14 and had never had that said, reminding him of her age.
The defendant continued to say he wanted to have sex with Carly and said he would travel to Yorkshire and get a hotel room for that purpose.
The profile messaged him saying sex was for adults; he disagreed, saying it was for boys and girls of all ages.
Andrew Walker said: "He told her he did not mind she was 13 and wanted to take her virginity." Curry, formerly of Gateshead, sent pictures of his genitals and described having sex with Maddie, another underage profile.
He was arrested in November and admitted sending the messages but claimed it was "simply a fantasy conversation", although he also said he would have used a condom.
Curry, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to two charges of attempting to communicate sexually with a child and was sentenced to eight months suspended for two years with a sexual harm prevention order and sex offences registration for ten years.
The court heard he has separated from his former partner and now lives alone.
Kate Barnes, defending, said Curry recognizes the need to engage with those who can help and admits how inappropriate his behaviour was.
The court also heard he was remorseful, a hard worker, and had lost his job due to the conviction.
