A HEREFORDSHIRE man was caught sending pictures of his genitals in a paedophile hunter sting on Facebook, a court has heard.

Reginald Thomas Vaughan entered a guilty plea to one charge of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford in December.

Vaughan had been caught out after speaking to an adult decoy, who was a member of paedophile hunting group Justice4Children, between February 25, 2021 and March 3, 2021, prosecutor Eleanor Peart told the court.

He had sent the decoy, who told him that she was 13, Facebook messages asking her for pictures of her breasts and talking about the sexual contact he wanted to have with her.

He also sent her three pictures of his penis, the court heard.

In police interview, Vaughan admitted the offence, Miss Peart said.

"There are aggravating factors, and you may want to commit this case to the crown court," she said.

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Marilena Di Vitantonio, for Vaughan, said he does have previous convictions, but none for like matters.

"He says it was a stupid thing to do, but the personal circumstances around that time led him to do it.

"There are personal issues that I will not go into in this court at this time," she said.

Magistrates said that the case was beyond their sentencing powers and committed Vaughan to the crown court for sentencing.

Vaughan, who is of Farmeadow Road, Leominster, was ordered to register with the police as a sex offender following his conviction and will appear before Worcester Crown Court for sentencing on January 27.

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