A Bolton man messaged, who he thought, was an 11 year-old girl was caught in a sting operation by a vigilante group.

Daniel Smith thought he was messaging Poppy but was in fact talking to a fake profile set up by the group Children’s Voices.

Bolton Crown Court heard Smith sent grotesque messages and repeatedly said not to tell anyone about.

The conduct took place between September 2021 and March last year.

He sent the girl pictures of his genitals on multiple occasions and suggested they meet up when she turned 18.

Smith, 35, also asked her to send him a video of her blowing him a kiss.

He said up a new account with fewer details about himself as he sought to avoid detection.

Robert Smith, prosecuting, said: “The group created another account of an adult and got his home address which they visited in April and police were called.

“The defendant was arrested at the scene and answered no comment.”

Smith appeared in court to be sentence after admitting two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

The court heard he spent some time at a property and slept on benches on other days.

It also heard he lived an isolated existence and walked to Preston regularly.

Hugh Mckee, defending, said he had got himself clear of drugs.

He added: “There has been nothing since this.

“The police saw him in April last year, since then he with the restrictions they placed on him he has had a basic phone, not a smart phone.”

Judge Nicholas Clarke KC said: “You were well aware that what you were doing was extremely wrong.

“You tried to tell her that she should not tell anyone.”

He also said if he jailed him Smith would get “no rehabilitation work” and “post-release supervision would be very limited.”

He suspended a sentence of six months for a period of two years and ordered Smith, from Dunoon Drive, Bolton, 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days and the Horizon programme over 35 days.

He also placed him on a sexual harm prevention order and the sex offenders’ register for seven years.