A MAN who sent a 15-year-old Bolton girl sexual messages has been sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years.

Over several days from June 12 last year 31-year-old Christopher Stopher, who called himself Tom, sent the girl a series of Whatsapp messages requesting she send him indecent pictures of herself.

David Lees, prosecuting, told Bolton Crown Court how the girl refused, blocked his number and reported it to her school, who contacted police.

Stopher, of Windsor Road, Harpurhey, pleaded guilty to sexual communication with a child.

Anna Chestnut, defending, said: "He recognises he should not have behaved as he did."

Judge Graeme Smith told Stopher he will have to undertake 120 hours of unpaid work, participate in a sex offender programme and 25 days of rehabilitation activities.

He said: "You were unable to provide an explanation as to why you embarked on this rather extraordinary course of conduct over a relatively short period of time."