A 39-year-old man who was caught by undercover police trying to meet a fake 12-year-old girl for sex has been given a suspended prison sentence. Steven Barrass, of Station Avenue, Bridlington, engaged in explicit conversations with the fictitious 'Maddie' on the chat site Kik.
The court heard that Barrass asked the 'girl' if she was a virgin and wanted to meet for 'fun', describing oral sex. He also sent a photo of his erect penis and asked for a 'naughty picture'. He arranged to meet near a McDonald’s in Hull but later got cold feet and told her to delete his number.
Barrass was arrested after police identified his IP address. He admitted one count of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. The court was told he has no previous convictions but suffers from severe mental health issues stemming from childhood bullying, including episodes of self-harm.
Sentencing Barrass to six months’ imprisonment suspended for two years, Judge David Tremberg said that had Barrass met a real 12-year-old, he would be facing “double figures” in prison. He noted that Barrass was a “lonely, isolated man” who retreated into a “fantasy world” but said the offending was serious.
Barrass was placed on the sex offenders register for seven years and must comply with a sexual harm prevention order, including restrictions on contact with under-16s and internet use.
