A MAN who believed he was talking to a 15-year-old boy sent him an image of his genitals.

Burnley Crown Court heard 37-year-old Paul Abel had a sexually explicit conversation with the ‘teenager’ and even travelled to meet him on November 1.

Abel, of Millgate Terrace, Whitworth, pleaded guilty to attempted sexual communication with a child between October 28 and November 1 and grooming on November 1.

Defending, Chloe Fordham asked Judge Philip Parry for an adjournment so a pre-sentence report could be prepared by the probation service.

Ms Fordham said: “The defendant is a man of previous good character. There is a real chance of rehabilitation in this case.That is something probation will explore with him.”

Abel was released on unconditional bail for the preparation of a pre-sentence report. He will be sentenced on October 7 but has been made subject of an interim notification requirement.

Judge Parry said: “I am going to order the probation service prepare a report on you to assist the judge on the next occasion to pass sentence on you. You should not read into that. You should know that all sentencing options are open to the judge on the next occasion.”