A sex offender who tried to meet an 11-year-old girl on Mousehold Heath in Norwich has been spared a jail sentence.
Phillip Jordan, 49, arranged the meet-up with what he believed to be a young girl called Lexi after sending her pornagraphic images and encouraging her to commit sex acts on herself.
However, the girl was in fact an undercover police officer and he was arrested at his workplace as a builder before the meeting could take place, Norwich Crown Court was told.
Ian James, prosecuting, said: “He believed that this was a girl who lived locally and he tried to arrange a situation where they could meet.”
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Jordan, of Mountbatten Drive in Norwich, pleaded guilty to attempting to incite a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity, watch images of sexual activity and sexual communication with a child.
Recorder Michael Turner sentenced him to two years suspended for two years after saying he believed there was a “real prospect of rehabilitation” and he had shown “real and genuine remorse”.
The court had heard that Jordan had begun communicating with a profile on the chat app Kik in August 2023 and had continued despite believing it belonged to an 11-year-old.
Mr James said he had initially stated “you’re a little young to be on this app” and had asked her to send photos of her mother and grandmother.
But the chat had become increasingly sexualised with Jordan asking 'Lexi' about sex acts and to send images with her top off, said Mr James.
He also sent her pornographic images, the court heard.
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Andrew Oliver, mitigating, said at the time he had become “increasingly insular” due to strains in his relationship and that he had shown “an element of thrill seeking and risk taking behaviour”.
“He is deeply ashamed and remorseful and is aware what the impact could be of these activities on a real 11-year-old,” he said.
He had since sought to address his behaviour by taking part in the Stop It Now programme run by the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, he added.
Jordan was placed on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years and made subject of a sexual harm prevention order.
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