A pervert who went by the name 'Stoke guy' was snared by undercover police officers posing as a 13-year-old girl.

Martin Lewis sent videos of himself performing a sex act despite 'Hannah' telling him she was 'nearly 13' and did not want any sexual chat.

The 25-year-old suggested playing 'naughty doctor' and asked if she wanted to have sex before arranging for her to visit him in Stoke.

But when he went to meet her outside the Co-op in Meir he was met by police who arrested him.

Now Lewis has been sentenced to a three-year community order at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

Prosecutor Richard Orme said the defendant was arrested after an operation by West Midlands Police to target online sex offences against children.

The force set up a fake profile of a 13-year-old girl called Hannah in 2018 using the username 'Happy Hannah 13'. The defendant made contact with the 'girl' using the username of 'Stoke Guy'.

Mr Orme said: "The defendant asked Hannah how old she was. She responded she was nearly 13.

"Very quickly the defendant started telling Hannah about adult games he would like to play and asked whether she would like to pay strip cards or naughty doctor.

"He sent her a video of him performing a sex act.

"He asked if she masturbated and commented how he would like to watch her do it.

"She even told him she had to go to school.

"He asked if she wanted to have sex. When she replied she heard it hurts he said he would be gentle.

"He went on to ask whether she wanted to have sex with him."

The next day he sent her a picture of him performing a sex act.

A few days later he asked her to perform sex acts on herself.

On May 15 Lewis asked the girl to visit him in the Potteries. But the next day he got cold feet and tried to dissuade her from travelling.

Mr Orme said: "He said she would have to lie to his mother about her age and she was to say she was 16 and was a Playstation friend.

"She sent a message telling him she had arrived at the Co-op. He walked up to meet her but was met by West Midlands Police and was arrested."

The defendant made full admissions. His phone was examined and it contained eight extreme pornographic images involving sex with animals.

Lewis, of Pinewood Crescent, Meir, pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child; attempting to use a child to watch a sexual act; attempting to cause a child to engage in sexual activity; attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming; attempting to arrange or facilitate the commission of a child sexual offence; and possession of extreme pornographic images.

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Martin Bloor, mitigating, said the defendant is emotionally immature. He said: "He has a lot of difficulty in communicating with people normally. He used to internet as an aid of communication."

As part of the community order Lewis must complete a sex offenders' programme for 90 days, a rehabilitation activity requirement for 25 days and 260 hours unpaid work.

He was made the subject of a five year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and was placed on the sex offenders' register for the same period.

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Judge David Fletcher said: "She told you right at the beginning she did not want to get involved in any sexual talk and that is exactly what you started to do.

"Over the course of a few days arrangements were made by you and you expected she was going to turn up in Meir near your home. You were clearly panicking and putting her off.

"The fact she is not a child is neither here nor there. The fact of the matter is, that was your intention.

"The offences go back to May 2019 and there has been no suggestion of any further behaviour.

"There is a real prospect of your rehabilitation. There is the ability to be dealing with professionals for a three year period. Unpaid work - that will have the advantage of getting you used to the world of work.

"The Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) will prevent you having contact with young people. It will keep you away from internet activity."

Judge Fletcher added: "You should try to get some employment and get out and meet real people and avoid any repetition.

"I do not want to see you again. If I do it will be bad news for you."

Lewis was ordered to pay £500 costs.