A perverted pensioner who sent a sexually explicit photograph to a teenage boy was arrested when his target turned out to be an undercover police officer.

Morris Eddy started up the conversation on a gay dating website before moving to Kik where he continued to send explicit messages despite being told the boy was only 14.

The 68-year-old widower had his digital devices forensically investigated by specialist officers who recovered no further evidence of sexual misconduct, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Paul Abrahams, prosecuting, said the grandfather started contact with the decoy for a short period of time between November and December 2022.

“Once they moved to the Kik application, he was told that the boy was only 14 and this didn’t deter the defendant,” he said.

“The decoy even sent messages telling him that he was going to school to reiterate the fact that he was only 14.”

The court heard how Eddy sent the boy a picture of two men performing a sex act and asked the decoy to send him photograph of his own genitals.

Eddy, of Cornforth Grove, Billingham, pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child; attempting to cause a child aged 13 to 15 to look at an image of sexual activity; and attempting to cause or incite a boy 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity.

Simon Walker, mitigating, said his client had never been in trouble before in his life but had started to lead a more isolated and lonely life following the death of his wife around 25 years ago.

He said Eddy had been fighting to address his sexual urges towards younger men and had taken to using the internet to be able to live a different life.

See more court stories from The Northern Echo by clicking here

🌟 Flash Sale Alert! 🌟 Dive into the heart of your community with a digital subscription to The Northern Echo! For a limited time only, enjoy 4 months of unlimited access for just £4 or enjoy 40% off an annual subscription. Click here.

“When he was arrested, he said – ‘I was stupid’ – and made full admissions,” he added.

Recorder Anthony Dunne sentenced the widower to 20 months in prison suspended for two years and ordered him to attend 35 rehabilitation activity requirement days to address his offending.

He added: “You told probation that you were shocked that the person you were talking to was purportedly the same age as one of your own grandchildren.”

Eddy was also made subject to a five-year sexual harm prevention order and told to sign on the sex offenders’ register for the same period.