Preston dad must sign Sex Offender's Register after sending lewd messages to a paedophile hunter he believed was a 14-year-old boy

Md Jahangir Alam, 39, of Balfour Road, Preston, was confronted at the Raj Indian restaurant in Newton, near Preston, after the married dad-of-two sent graphic pictures over the internet and made lewd sexual suggestions to an adult posing as a child.

Prosecuting, Paul Brookwell said: " He has engaged in conversation on the internet with Mr Myles Manning who is an adult, but he was posing as a boy aged 14 called Carl.

"The court will have heard previously from Mr Manning as he's part of a paedophile hunter group.

"He was quickly engaged in conversation with Mr Alam and the conversation soon turned to the subject of sex.

"Mr Alam was informed and it was clear that this person was saying that he was a 14 year old boy. Nevertheless the conversation continued in sexual terms.

"Mr Manning and his colleagues attended his place of work on August 4, 2019, and then contacted the police and the police attended."

"The following day Alam admitted he had had the conversation,, had sent the photos and images and said he thought 'Carl' was joking about his age.

"He denied any sexual interest in children and said nothing would happen if they were to meet up.

"The prosecution does not bring charges about meeting up but there were conversations about meeting up, including offering to pay for a hotel room and acknowledging his age was a problem."

Alam admitted attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, and attempting to cause a child to engage in a sexual activity over a period between July 30 and August 4, 2019.

Defending, Barbara Webster said he was sorry for bringing shame on his family.

She added: "He has positive aspects of his life. He's not dependent on benefits and resides in a privately rented property

He financially supports himself, his wife and two children.

Imposing 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, Recorder Neville Biddle said: " Quite why you involved yourself in this activity remains a mystery.

"You may be grateful in a sense that this was not a real 14 year old boy."

He imposed a rehabilitation requirement and ordered him to attend a sex offender programme.

Alam must sign the Sex Offender's Register for 10 years and was given a sexual harm prevention order for the same length of time.

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