A 24-year-old Spalding man was caught by a paedophile sting after sending sexual messages to whom he believed were teenage girls.
Simon Stone thought he was sending sexual messages to two young girls aged 13 and 16 in December of last year but was sending messages to two adult decoys as part of the sting.
Lincoln Crown Court heard that the Simon Stone first started sending messages on Facebook. Simon Stone also sent an indecent video.
Mark Achurch, prosecuting, said during the conversations Stone sent a photograph of himself in bed and later one of his penis.
According to Mark Achurch, once the contact had ended with whom he thought was a 13-year-old girl, he then moved onto another girl who he thought was 16 or 17, but who was actually another adult decoy.
Mr Achurch said Stone asked the female to “send him something naughty” and invited her to his home.
The paedophile hunting group behind the sting attended Simon Stone Spalding home with Lincolnshire Police.
Neil Sands, mitigating, said Stone had stayed out of trouble in the year since his offences and moved away from Lincolnshire to the North East of England to help look after his mother.
Mr Sands told the court Stone had been lonely and depressed after suffering a relationship breakdown and was of previous good character.
“The Probation Service say he is someone they can work with and manage safely in the community,” Mr Sands added.
Simon Stone who moved to Witton Crescent, Darlington admitted three offences of attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity, to watch a sexual video and to engage in sexual exploitation between 13 and 17 December 2020.
Judge Simon Hirst told Simon Stone his offences could only be punished by an immediate prison sentence.
Simon Stone was sentenced to 32 months imprisonment and must go on the sex offenders register for life. He was also made the subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
