BREAKING: Ryhope man avoids jail after being caught by Paedophile hunters asking “14 year old girl”for images

Sunderland man who asked decoy schoolgirl for photos of her feet is spared jail

A Sunderland man who asked a Facebook profile he believed belonged to a 14-year-old girl for pictures of her feet has avoided an immediate prison sentence after being caught in a paedophile-hunter sting.

Andrew Bailey, 44, began messaging what he thought was a schoolgirl online, asking about the colour of her socks and whether he could see them. Newcastle Crown Court heard that after being told the girl was 14, he continued the conversation, asked about her shoes, and requested a picture of her feet.

Bailey went on to describe “sexy feet” and admitted that “feet make him h*,” with the conversation and photos he sent becoming increasingly sexual. In reality, the “girl” was an adult woman running a decoy account to catch online predators. The chat logs were passed to police, leading to Bailey’s arrest.

Bailey, of Ryhope Street, Sunderland, pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. The court was told he had no previous convictions, had worked as a warehouse operator, and had developed health issues while previously living in Germany.

Recorder Christopher Rose handed Bailey a 14-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, along with rehabilitation requirements, mental-health treatment, and 90 days of alcohol-abstinence monitoring.

Bailey must also sign the sex offenders register and comply with a seven-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order restricting his online activity and contact with children.