Cornered paedophile wanted 'play buddy'

A paedophile who thought he was talking to a teenage boy online told him he wanted a “play buddy” and pictures of his genitals, a court was told this week.

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Christopher O'Brian was the target of a sting operation by an undercover officer but he later played down his interest by telling police that he was shopping in the Tesco store in Seacroft while talking to the profile.

O'Brian was given a suspended sentence at Leeds Crown Court after he pleaded guilty to attempted sexual communication with a child and attempting to cause a child to engage in non-penetrative sexual activity.

Using a sexually-suggestive name, 39-year-old O'Brian contacted the decoy profile in October 2023.