A PAEDOPHILE sent an explicit video of him masturbating to what he thought was a 13-year-old girl and told her to take her knickers off whilst at school.

Nicholas Owen logged onto the messaging site Chatiw and began talking to a user who was in fact an undercover police officer.

He messaged her explicit pictures and asked to move the conversation onto the app Kik. The next day he asked if she was “a naughty girl” whilst she was at school.

Prosecuting, Andrew Houston said: “He suggested that she should go to the toilet and put her knickers in her bag. He was sent a picture of a pair of white knickers.

“He told her he was very proud of her for what she had done.”

Owen discussed carrying out a sex act on the child, Mr Houston said: “He describes how she would feel when he did that”.

Winchester Crown Court heard that Owen was sent a picture of 'the girl', in response he sent an explicit video and said she “looked utterly delicious”.

Owen told the girl that “she could call him daddy” and when discussing about her taking her knickers off he said: “If you knew what it did to my **** you wouldn’t feel silly at all”.

Mr Houston said that Owen described himself as a “responsible adult” and “sort of happily married but the sex life has died off”.

He was arrested at his home in Ecchinswell and pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, attempting to cause a child to watch an image of sexual activity and making indecent images of children - Category C. The offences occurred between September 19 and September 26, 2018.

The 59-year-old, now of Hadleigh Close, Swindon, was supported by his wife and family in the public gallery on Friday. In mitigation, Barry McElduff said: “Not withstanding his deeply foolish behaviour they stand by him and want to support him in his rehabilitation."

He continued: “These offences occurred at a time when Mr Owen had a bad accident and retreated somewhat into himself.

“The offending has been discussed openly not just with her (Owen’s wife) but with his wider family members. They want to play an active part in his rehabilitation.”

Mr McElduff described Owen as a “hardworking, intelligent man” who has already sought help for his offending.

In sentencing, Mr Recorder Adam Feest QC said: “You persisted in sexual chat with that child as far as you were concerned.

“The talk between the two of you only on your part was explicit. You on one occasion sent a short video of you masturbating which appears to have been in response to an image sent to you of a teenage girl.”

Owen was given an 18-month prison sentence suspended for two years. He must complete 30 rehabilitation days and is subject to a sexual harm prevention order and registration for 10 years.