Sex offender who sent a picture of his penis to who he thought was a 14-year-old boy.

A 41-year-old man has been jailed for five years after sending a picture of his penis to what he believed was a 14-year-old boy and encouraging the "boy" to masturbate.

Andrew Gold, of no fixed abode, was described as "devious and manipulative" by Judge Catherine Richards at Swansea Crown Court.

Gold was found guilty on July 2nd of attempted sexual communications with a child and attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.

The court heard that Gold, previously of Tenby, contacted what he thought was a 14-year-old boy named Ryan – but was actually a decoy account – between June and September last year.

"Your conversation soon turned sexual," Judge Richards said, summarising the evidence heard at trial. The contact began on a dating app, before swiftly moving on to Snapchat.

Gold sent 'Ryan' a picture of his penis and asked him to send pictures of himself. He also described sexual acts to 'Ryan' that he said he planned to do with him, and encouraged 'Ryan' to masturbate.

Judge Richards described Gold's behaviour as "devious and manipulative offending", as he specifically chose to move the conversation on to Snapchat due to the disappearing messages feature, as well as the subsequent deletion of Gold's Snapchat account.

"Your actions were determined and calculated," Judge Richards said.

Gold was also ordered to register as a sex offender for life, and was made subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.