A paedophile, caught out by undercover police officers posing as 13-year-old girls, has been spared jail by an Isle of Wight court.

Philip Sale, now of Kingswood Road, Crewkerne, Somerset, appeared before a judge at the Isle of Wight Crown Court on Thursday, April 25.

In January, the 51-year-old had admitted two counts of being an adult attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child, dating to 2021.

Prosecutor, Lucy McGarr, said Sale had been communicating with two young girls he believed to be 'Paris' and 'Elsie' - in reality, undercover police officers - using the messaging platform, Kik.

Between January 12 and January 20, 2021, Sale communicated with 'Paris', asking if he was too old for her and to see her “sexy body” as well as commenting on what she was wearing, asking how many men had seen her naked and playing a game of truth or dare, court heard.

Between March 24 and April 21, 2021, Sale communicated with 'Elsie' in a similar pattern and encouraged her to send pictures of herself, also sending a sexually explicit picture which he claimed was of him.

Oscar Vincent, defending, said the offences were of some age and said no other matters had been recorded against Sale in the ensuing three years.

He said Sale pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity, adding the offences were committed during a period of extreme stress, emotional isolation, and financial hardship.

Mr Vincent told the court Sale had been diagnosed with depression and his life collapsed around him.

Sale was made the subject of a 24-month community order, to include 200 hours of unpaid work and 40 rehabilitation days.

He was ordered to pay costs of £1,500 and was made the subject of a five-year sexual harm prevention order and notification requirement.