A MAN sent sexually explicit images of private parts and messages to a girl he believed was aged 13, a court heard.

But Preston Crown Court heard how the girl was really an undercover police officer and Ian Michael Lloyd was arrested after they had exchanged messages.

Lloyd, 54, of Whalley Road, Clitheroe, pleaded guilty to one count of encouraging a child to make a communication that was sexual and two counts of intentionally attempting to cause a child to look at an image of a person engaging in a sexual activity.

He also pleaded guilty to two counts of intentionally attempting a child to watch him engaging in sexual activity and one of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Judge Andrew Jefferies QC was told how Lloyd began contacting the ‘girl’ via instant messaging mobile app Kik Messenger, on April 3 this year.

Emma Kehoe, prosecuting, said Lloyd claimed in the messages that he was aged 34 from Preston and was made aware that the girl was aged just 13 more than once.

“She received her first message from a user called Lloydy69er just after 25 past 11 on April 3,” said Ms Kehoe.

“The user’s profile picture showed an adult man who gave themselves an age of 40/60 with a goatee beard.”

The court heard how on April 3, Lloyd sent two pictures of a man exposing his private parts then sent two video clips of a man carrying out a private act.

Then on April 5, he sent an image of a man holding his private parts.

There were further messages over the coming days but the ‘girl’ didn’t respond to them.

Lloyd was then detected and subsequently arrested by police.

Defending, Antony Parkinson, asked for the case to be adjourned for probation to consider placing Lloyd in an approved premises.

He said that Lloyd had told his probation officer he was ‘too drunk to remember’ what had happened.

Agreeing to adjourn the case to consider placing Lloyd in an approved premises, Judge Jefferies QC, described him as ‘dangerous’.

He said: “You clearly are dangerous and could well offend and commit offences against others of a more serious nature.

“I am sceptical that you were drunk when this happened and just don’t buy it.

“In this case, it’s a relatively low-level offence and it wasn’t aimed at a real 13-year-old girl.

“So a prison sentence would be relatively short and I’m not sure that’s in the best interests of the public to do that.

“So I will adjourn this case for sentencing until July 24 in order for the probation to consider placing you in an approved premises.”