A BRADFORD man was trapped by an online paedophile investigator who posed as a 14-year-old girl called Little Laura on the internet.

Russell Paul Kelly, 48, of Rook Lane, Dudley Hill, Bradford, chatted to the “schoolgirl” on the Badoo internet site for several days boasting he was “an amazing kisser” before persuading her to meet him.

But when he turned up for their “date” at Shibden Park in Halifax, there was no sign of the teenager and Kelly instead found Griff Roberts who filmed him and later handed evidence over to the police.

Ian Howard, prosecuting at Leeds Crown Court today, told the court Mr Roberts had established an online organisation to expose paedophiles by posing as a 14 or 15 year-old girl with identities such as Little Laura to trap perverts into revealing themselves.

Kelly’s internet provider details were traced through the messages he had sent and he was eventually arrested.

Inquiries showed within about 15 minutes of Kelly first chatting with Little Laura he was told she was only 14.

He described himself to her as “an amazing kisser” and said he had nice lips. He said he was looking forward to meeting her and thought they would be able to teach each other something new.

Mr Howard said it was possible photos had been exchanged because at one stage Kelly described Laura as pretty and told her they would have to be “discreet” because of her age.

On July 2, 2013, there was talk about her being shy and “the schoolgirl” asked him what he had in mind. “What else do you want to do apart from kissing,” he was asked.

Kelly replied: “I’ll have to see how the date progresses.”

There was further chat about kissing and when he was pressed Kelly said: “If you fancy going to bed that’s fine by me.”

When he got to the park on July 5, 2013, and found himself being filmed by Mr Roberts on a hand held camera Kelly fled. After he was traced, police went to his address on November 28 that year and arrested him.

At that time he claimed he thought it was a friend who had been playing a prank on him and had just gone along with it. He said he went to the park to confront the friend to show the prank had run its course.

“He plainly now accepts he was intending to meet up with a 14-year-old girl.”

James Littlehales for Kelly said a psychologist had assessed him as of low average intelligence, which went towards explaining his difficulty in accepting what he had done and any sexual motive.

After failing to turn up at court for his trial he had spent a short time in custody, which he had found a very unpleasant experience. He had changed his plea to guilty and it was now accepted the probation service could work with him and address any risk of re-offending.

Kelly admitted attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming and was given a three year community order with supervision and a 60 day activity programme.

Judge Rodney Jameson QC said: “You engaged in a flirtation over the internet with somebody who was in fact an adult male purporting to be a 14-year-old schoolgirl.

“A meeting was arranged and it was indicated to her that would have to be a discreet meeting so you knew exactly what the risks of meeting a child of that age were.”

"You travelled to Halifax to meet the schoolgirl and in the event found it was an adult male.”

The judge said what was in Kelly’s mind was not clear, but no girl was put at risk and an optimistic pre-sentence report assessed he would benefit from work if not jailed.

He said he was prepared to take that chance but if he did not engage with the programme or breached it he was facing prison.