A COURT has heard how a man sent an obscene video of himself online to someone he believed was a 12-year-old girl.

James Gribbin repeatedly asked the girl – who was actually an undercover police officer posing as a child – to send him nude photographs of herself and said he wanted to have sex with her.

Prosecutor Jessica Lister told Bradford Crown Court how Gribbin, who was 31 at the time, of Ashbourne Road, Keighley, sent a flurry of messages to the 'girl'.

He also tried to call her via a social media app.

When he sent the obscene video the 'girl' replied, “Oh my God, is that really you?”.

Gribbin confirmed it was and asked if she liked it.

On March 6, 2023, he sent a message, which was quickly deleted, asking her  to show him touching herself.

He was arrested two days later for an unrelated driving matter. Incriminating images were found on his phone when it was seized.

He later pleaded guilty to attempted sexual communication with a child.

Mitigating, Ella Embleton said that at the time of the messages Gribbin - now 32 - was “in a state of turmoil” due to a gambling addiction that had left him in significant debt. He was also abusing cocaine and cannabis to cope with his anxiety.

She said he had been experiencing “delusional intrusive thoughts”, which he described as “psychosis”.

She said his mental health had stabilised after being held in custody and he had been able to “face his demons”.

Sentencing Gribbin to 13 months in prison, plus an extra seven days for absconding in advance of a scheduled trial, all suspended for two years, Recorder Abdul Iqbal KC said his attempts to solicit images from someone he thought was a 12-year-old schoolgirl were “persistent and deviant” and that he was “sexually excited” by their exchanges.

He said: “This is not one of those cases where you stopped this behaviour well before you were arrested. The behaviour carried on just about right up to that point and I am satisfied would have continued but for your arrest.

“These are worrying details of a serious offence. Your behaviour was both persistent and deviant.

“This is serious offending and the risk that you pose in the future to children is plain.”

He ordered Gribbin to take part in a 90-day sexual offending group work programme to reduce risk and to undertake 55 rehabilitation activity days.

He was also made the subject of a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and will have to sign the sex offender register for the same period.