A PAEDOPHILE caught with indecent images of children asked a 13-year-old girl if she liked older men, a court heard.

Simon Virgo Sentenced for Child Sex Offenses

Simon Matthew Virgo, 37, was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for 12 years, after pleading guilty to child sex offenses. He had contacted a "teenage girl" named Mollie through the messaging app Kik and engaged in sexually suggestive conversations.

Prosecutor Emily Lanham stated that the messages exchanged with Mollie contained references to implied sexual acts and questions about her preference for older men.

During a raid on his home, police seized two cellphones and two iPads, finding obscene images of children suspected of being abused, aged between six and eleven. Virgo was charged with two counts of indecent photographs of a child and one count of engaging in sexual communication with a child.

Defense attorney Jamie Gammon argued for a suspended sentence, highlighting Virgo's good character and lack of prior convictions. He stated that Virgo was remorseful and sought help.

Judge Christopher Parker QC acknowledged the seriousness of the offenses, warning that the situation could have been much worse if Mollie had been a real child. He also considered positive references from individuals who knew Virgo.

In addition to the suspended sentence, Virgo was ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work, undergo 40 days of rehabilitation, and pay £340 in costs. He must also register as a sexual offender for seven years and comply with a sexual harm prevention order for the same period.