A 47-YEAR-OLD MAN pretended to be an 11-year-old boy before sending sick pictures of youngsters being sexually abused to another paedophile, a court heard.

Gary Jee told police he had a sexual interest in children after sick images were found on the mobile phone of a man Jee had told he was an 11-year-old boy.

At Bolton Crown Court, Mark Rhind, prosecuting, said Jee was cautioned in March 2018 after 40 indecent images were found on a tablet. In March 2019, officers discovered Whatsapp conversations on the mobile of a man arrested for similar offences.

Sexualised messages from Jee were written in the guise of an 11-year-old boy, 'Luke Young', said Mr Rhind.

Jee, of Castle Street, Bolton, who has no previous had also sent five indecent images to the man.

He claimed the images, showing boys aged just eight engaging in sexual activity, were of him and showed him being abused.

Interviewed after his arrest, Jee told officers he was living out “fantasies online” and it was all “make-believe”.

He said he would never actually approach or harm children, but Mr Rhind described the deception as an “involved fantasy” with Jee even sending the man images of the school he was pretending to attend.

“By his own admission he has a sexual interest in children,” added Mr Rhind.

Nicky Gatto, defending, said Jee, who admitted to distributing indecent photographs, had “taken significant steps to address these issues” and was undergoing counselling.

Judge Timothy Stead, said: “Doing what you did seeks to encourage such activity, but your personal case provides a good prospect of rehabilitation and this is highly desirable in your case."

Jee was given a five-year sexual harm prevention order and a three-year community order. He must take part in a sexual offender treatment programme and 30 days of rehabilitation activities.