This is Kent --
A LEADING city architect tried to make a 12-year-old girl post indecent pictures of herself on the internet, Canterbury Crown Court was told.
Paul Edwards, 41, found the 12-year-old on Facebook and bombarded her with nude pictures of himself and his girlfriend.
Edwards, of The Green in Chartham, admitted inciting the young girl to perform a sexual act, making indecent images which he sent to the underage girl and possession of cannabis.
The senior architect at a leading Canterbury firm sent the messages to the girl in Cumbria during October 2010.
He latched onto the girl, who was using a friend's Facebook page, by accident.The girl had stopped her personal page because she had been bullied.
Prosecutor Chris May said Edwards claimed to be living in Kendal and told the girl not to disclose their conversations to anyone.
His plan backfired when the friend checked the Facebook page and found the indecent messages on it.
She informed the girl's mother who told Cumbria Police.
Mr May said: "The girl stopped replying to him because she was scared. He asked her for nude pictures of herself but she said no. She was relieved that her mum found out.
"There are clear references to her age, and her date of birth was on the page. The defendant must have known."
Mr May said Edwards had convictions for indecent exposure and making an obscene telephone call.
Edwards told police he had found the girl when looking at a friend's Facebook page. He originally came from Cumbria.
He told a probation officer the messages he sent were rooted in fantasy and admitted he had brought shame to himself and his family.
Judge Adele Williams said she considered Edwards was a risk to children.
She said: "You interfered with a child's innocence for your own gratification. You confused and frightened her. She is fearful of men and is distressed by what you did to her. You are 41 and hold a responsible job as an architect."
The judge put Edwards on a sexual offenders' rehabilitation course.
She said: "This is the best way to protect the public but it will be no easy option for you to confront your perversion."
Edwards was given a 12-month prison sentence suspended for two years, put on a curfew for three months and ordered to pay £1,000 costs. He will remain on the Sexual Offenders Register for ten years. Reported by This is 24 minutes ago.
A LEADING city architect tried to make a 12-year-old girl post indecent pictures of herself on the internet, Canterbury Crown Court was told.
Paul Edwards, 41, found the 12-year-old on Facebook and bombarded her with nude pictures of himself and his girlfriend.
Edwards, of The Green in Chartham, admitted inciting the young girl to perform a sexual act, making indecent images which he sent to the underage girl and possession of cannabis.
The senior architect at a leading Canterbury firm sent the messages to the girl in Cumbria during October 2010.
He latched onto the girl, who was using a friend's Facebook page, by accident.The girl had stopped her personal page because she had been bullied.
Prosecutor Chris May said Edwards claimed to be living in Kendal and told the girl not to disclose their conversations to anyone.
His plan backfired when the friend checked the Facebook page and found the indecent messages on it.
She informed the girl's mother who told Cumbria Police.
Mr May said: "The girl stopped replying to him because she was scared. He asked her for nude pictures of herself but she said no. She was relieved that her mum found out.
"There are clear references to her age, and her date of birth was on the page. The defendant must have known."
Mr May said Edwards had convictions for indecent exposure and making an obscene telephone call.
Edwards told police he had found the girl when looking at a friend's Facebook page. He originally came from Cumbria.
He told a probation officer the messages he sent were rooted in fantasy and admitted he had brought shame to himself and his family.
Judge Adele Williams said she considered Edwards was a risk to children.
She said: "You interfered with a child's innocence for your own gratification. You confused and frightened her. She is fearful of men and is distressed by what you did to her. You are 41 and hold a responsible job as an architect."
The judge put Edwards on a sexual offenders' rehabilitation course.
She said: "This is the best way to protect the public but it will be no easy option for you to confront your perversion."
Edwards was given a 12-month prison sentence suspended for two years, put on a curfew for three months and ordered to pay £1,000 costs. He will remain on the Sexual Offenders Register for ten years. Reported by This is 24 minutes ago.