A pervert who sent a photo of his penis to a teenage girl and asked if he could ‘teach her’ about sex, only to be confronted by online vigilantes, has been jailed for two years.
Dock worker Paul Moore exchanged explicit messages with the 12-year-old, known as Gemma, after finding her profile on the dating app, Qeep.
Maidstone Crown Court in Kent heard the 34-year-old was fully aware of the girl’s age when he asked her if she wanted to have sex with him.
Moore even referred to her as his girlfriend and said he would book a hotel room for them.
But having arranged to meet the girl at Chatham railway station in Kent on November 3 last year, he was confronted by online paedophile hunters, Protecting Kids Online UK.
Footage of the moment he learned of Gemma’s true identity – an adult, female member of the team – was later posted on social media and viewed more than 40,000 times.
Moore, who separated from his wife shortly after the birth of their son two years ago, admitted meeting a child following grooming.
He was jailed for two years on Friday, February 2.
Dock worker Paul Moore exchanged explicit messages with the 12-year-old, known as Gemma, after finding her profile on the dating app, Qeep
Prosecutor Ian Foinette told the court the exchange of sexual messages began on October 24, and Moore arranged to meet ‘Gemma’ after she told him she would turn 13 on October 30.
He asked her if she would be ‘ready for sex’ and told her he would use a condom so she would not get pregnant.
‘He asked her to confirm she had deleted the picture of his penis in case her mother saw it,’ said Mr Foinette.
‘He asked about her breasts and explained oral sex to her. Other messages suggested she should watch porn to get herself in the mood, and to play with herself.’
Moore asked her if she would be ‘ready for sex’ and told her he would use a condom so she would not get pregnant
Having arranged to meet the girl at Chatham railway station in Kent on November 3 last year, he was confronted by online paedophile hunters
Arrangements were then made to meet up, although Moore, of Queensway, in Sheerness, Kent, failed to show.
It was at the second planned meeting at the train station on November 3 that Moore, who works unloading cargo at Sheerness Docks, was confronted.
The court heard he had been in custody for his own protection since his arrest.
‘The confrontation was recorded and ended up on Facebook, which no doubt caused considerable trouble for this defendant,’ added Mr Foinette.
Moore must sign on the sex offenders’ register on his release and will be barred from working with children and vulnerable adults.