A MAN aged 49 has been jailed for four years for sending ‘12-year-old Caitlin’ sexually explicit videos and saying he was ‘her dirty little secret.’

Jeremy Holroyd groomed what he believed was a young schoolgirl over a six-month period, offering to buy her gifts, sending a photo of his penis and wanting to meet up with her for sex, Bradford Crown Court heard today.

Holroyd, of Edward Street, Waring Green, Brighouse, pleaded guilty to attempting to cause or incite a child under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity after he was snared by an online enforcement officer pretending to be Caitlin aged 12.

Prosecutor Alisha Kaye said the offence took place between November 5, 2020, and May 20, 2021.

The officer opened a Snapchat account and Holroyd got in touch using a false name. He told Caitlin his age and she said she was 12, the court heard.

They engaged in general chat but in January, Holroyd asked what she was wearing, saying he bet she looked good in shorts. He called her sweetheart and said he wanted to see her in pyjamas.

Then he told her that older guys were better because they wouldn’t just want sex.

Holroyd asked for nude photos and said he liked naughty girls, Miss Kaye said.

He called himself Caitlin’s ‘dirty little secret’ and sent a photo of himself in his under-pants with the button open.

He asked how short her skirt was and offered to buy her underwear.

By April last year, Holroyd was saying he wanted to see her naked. He went on to send two photos of his exposed penis and then a video of sex acts between a female and a man. He followed them up with more images of people having sex and asked if she was ready to try that.

Holroyd was arrested on June 7 last year. He said he wasn’t sexually aroused by children but conceded that he should have had more self-control.

His barrister, Caroline Abraham, said he had no previous convictions. 

He had taken steps to address his behaviour by completing online courses.

Miss Abraham stressed that no real child had been groomed and corrupted.

Judge Ahmed Nadim said Holroyd did not admit his guilt until his case was sent to the crown court.

He had skilfully earned the trust of what he believed to be a 12-year-old child, grooming her and offering to buy her gifts and then asking to meet her.

Judge Nadim said Holroyd wanted to engage in sexual activity with her.

There was a substantial age gap and he had sent still and moving sexual images, encouraging her to replicate that kind of behaviour.

Holroyd was made the subject of a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and he must sign on the sex offender register for life. 

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