A MAN from Runcorn has been placed on the sex offenders’ register after he asked a 12-year-old decoy for pictures of her feet in a ‘one-off moment of madness’.

Connor Woods, of Stenhills Crescent, appeared in Warrington Magistrates’ on Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

The 24-year-old entered a chat room on July 17 last year, in which he began a conversation with who he believed was a 12-year-old girl but was in fact a decoy operated by undercover officers.

The court heard that, during this conversation, Woods sent a picture of his lower body in his underwear.

Woods then proceeded to ask the decoy if he could ‘see her feet’ and ‘ejaculate over them’.

He was arrested by officers and stated in an interview that he ‘realised what he was doing was wrong’.

“He has never been in trouble before,” said Mr Lever, defence for Woods.

“He was arrested by police and immediately admitted that he committed the offence.”

The court heard that Woods’ electronic devices were checked by police officers, who found ‘nothing sinister’ on them.

“He is taking steps himself to deal with this issue,” said Mr Lever.

“This was a one-off moment of madness for a young man living on his own.

“He has told me that he is determined that he is going to learn from this mistake.

“I don’t think we will see this young man again.”

Woods was sentenced to two years community order, and must attended 20 rehabilitation activity days, as well as 35 days on the Horizon sexual offenders programme.

A sexual harm prevention order was granted for five years, and Woods was placed on the sex offenders register for the same amount of time and fined £100.