Paedophile snared by undercover cops posing as girls 'Lexi' and 'Alice'

A PAEDOPHILE who thought he was messaging girls aged 11 and 12 and asking for photos of them in their underwear was actually chatting with undercover police officers.

- By MARTIN NAYLOR

Nottingham Crown Court heard how Samuel Marriott also had almost 200 child abuse images on his phone as well as photos of a woman performing sex acts with a dog.

The 24-year-old sent a photo of his crotch to one of the girls, telling her if she sent one back it would help him get "aroused". But Lexi and Alice, who he was chatting to online, were police officers.

Imposing an 18-month jail term, suspended for two years, Recorder Stuart Sprawson said: "You deliberately, intentionally and with some resolve led the conversation and effectively groomed them to send you explicit photographs. You told them what you would like to do with them if you met.

"You pursued them enthusiastically until you were arrested and taken into custody. You also had indecent images of children and there were a number of victims. In interview you came to unusually express that you had a sexual interest in children and many in your position choose not to."