A Darwen man sent explicit pictures of his penis to six different decoys he believed were 13 or 14 year old children, and wanted to meet one of them.

Ricki Hillman, 38, of Joseph Street, Darwen, was tracked down by two 'paedophile hunter' groups, including 'North West paedophile hunters'.

Burnley Magistrates Court, acting as Burnley Crown Court, heard how between July 22 and September 25, 2022, Hillman spoke to the decoy accounts on an app called 'Meet24'.

Prosecuting, Stephen Parker told the court two of the decoys, named 'Jenna-Rae Davison' and 'Ellie Fletcher', stated they were 13 and 14 years old in their biography description on their profile in the app.

On July 23, Hillman made contact with one of the decoys and said she looked "like a nice girl" and he "wanted some fun".

The court heard one of the decoys also explicitly said they were of school age, as they sent messages such as "I am dreading going back to school".

Around 200 pages of messages were used as evidence against Hillman, including telling the decoys to delete the pictures of his erect penis after he sent them.

Mitigating, Emma Keogh told the court the defendant is a father and he has a good relationship with his children's mother, and still wishes to have contact with them.

She said: "He is embarrassed and depressed to be here in court.

"He has had a troubled background, bring adopted at two years old and first smoking cannabis at age 10.

"Mr Hillman has also had problems with his mental health in the past, being sectioned under the Mental Health Act in 2012.

"His children are aged eight, three and one; and he has a possibility of rekindling the relationship with their mother."

Hillman pleaded guilty to six counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

Judge Sara Dodd sentenced him to a three year community order, with 10 days of rehabilitation activity requirements and 100 hours of unpaid work.

She said: "You did ask to meet one of the decoys, although your mitigation says you would never have done it.

"But I am dealing with you for six separate offences for six different decoys, not just one.

"I accept you are remorseful but there is no explanation for your offending other than your mental health.

"However, I also have to take into account the delay in this case, where you have refrained from further offending.

"I believe that the community will be better served with your rehabilitation through a community order, rather than an immediate custodial sentence."