A pervert tried to meet a young girl for sex and also sent her sexual photos of himself via Snapchat.

Bradley Finch thought he was talking to a 13-year-old called “Lucy” when he sent her pictures of his penis and asked her to have sex with him.

However, the 20-year-old was instead talking to an undercover police officer as part of a sting operation and when he arranged to meet “Lucy” he was arrested and his home was searched.

When officers checked his devices they also found an indecent image of a child and another photograph containing sexual abuse of an animal.

Finch, of Minster, on Sheppey, was charged with four offences and admitted them when he appeared at Medway Magistrates’ Court on November 14.

He pleaded guilty to attempting to arrange the commission of a child sex offence which occurred between October 19 and November 1, last year in Sheerness which he tried to arrange in Maidstone.

He also pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child between October 19 and October 31 in Sheerness when he was talking to “Lucy” and asking for sexual photos and discussing sex and arranging to meet her so he could have sexual activity with her.

He also admitted making an indecent photograph of a child in Sheerness on or before November 1 last year, and possessing an extreme pornographic image on or before the same date.

Rajni Prashar, prosecuting, said: “Officers from the special ops unit started chatting with him on Snapchat and he thought he was talking to a 13-year-old girl, but it was a decoy and he attempted to engage in sexual communication with the child.

“He sent messages asking to meet up for sex and asked Lucy if she’d had sex before and that they could meet at his home or her home.”

Magistrates heard he also sent a picture of his private parts. When they arranged to meet on November 1 last year, he was arrested and was found to have condoms with him.

The prosecutor continued: “We say this is not suitable to be heard in the magistrates’ court and it should be sent to the crown court for sentencing, but he will be subject to notification requirements from now on.”

Deputy District Judge Evelyn Warner agreed and decided to send the case to Maidstone Crown Court to be dealt with and order a pre-sentencing report to be carried out on Finch before he is sentenced.

She also ordered Finch to register his mobile phone number with the police as soon as possible and told him he would be sentenced at the crown court on a date to be fixed.