Paedophile caught out after he messaged undercover cop who he thought was a child.

A paedophile who thought he was chatting to a child online has been sentenced after being caught by an undercover police officer.

Darran Faith, from Sunderland, made indecent images of children and attempted to engage one of them in a sexual act. However, he was unknowingly communicating with an undercover officer from Northumbria Police.

Officers seized several devices from Faith's home, including his laptop, which contained numerous indecent images of children. Faith was interviewed in January 2021 after engaging in sexual communications with the undercover officer, believing it to be a child.

He was subsequently charged with attempting sexual communication with a child and making indecent images of children. Faith pleaded guilty to all charges at South Tyneside Magistrates Court on October 27.

On November 30, Faith appeared at Newcastle Crown Court, where he was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to complete 35 days of rehabilitation, comply with a 10-year sex offender notification requirement, and adhere to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.