A DEPRAVED paedophile who wanted sex with a 13-year-old girl and masturbated on Skype in front of an undercover police officer he believed was the child has been jailed for 32 months.

Adam Cooper, 42, thought he was communicating with underage “Jess” when he sent her naked photos of himself on the instant messaging app Kik, Bradford Crown Court heard on Friday.

Cooper initially told the police officer he was over 18 but then admitted to being aged 30 and married with children.

He asked her to describe herself in more detail and masturbated in front of her on Skype.

He pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and two counts of attempting to engage in sexual activity in the presence of a child, all in February, 2020.

Cooper, of Pendlebury Grove, Hoyland, Barnsley, was sent to the crown court for sentence by Skipton magistrates.

Prosecutor Rebecca Young said “Jess” told him straight away that she was 13 but he sent her photos of his penis.

Cooper had also chatted online with like-minded paedophiles, the court was told.

He was identified by the police as having a sexual interest in children. His home was searched and his computer and phone seized.

Julian White said in mitigation that Cooper had been frank with the police from the outset and was a man of previous good character.

He was an engineer and the sole breadwinner for his family.

He conceded that his behaviour had been appalling and must stop. He was indulging a sexual fantasy for his paedophilic inclinations during a stressful time in his life.

Mr White said that although Cooper believed he was talking to a girl aged 13, Jess did not actually exist.

Judge Jonathan Rose said Cooper was a highly educated man with all the understanding to realise how “grave and grotesque” his offending was.

He was guilty of persistent paedophilia, although he told his probation officer he had no sexual interest in children.

He masturbated live on Skype in front of what he believed was a 13-year-old child and wanted to have sex with her.

It was “disgusting, appalling and depraved” behaviour, Judge Rose said.

Cooper had contacted “Jess” over eight days, it wasn’t just a one-off act of stupidity.

He must sign on the sex offender register for an indefinite period and the judge made a Sexual Harm Prevention Order to safeguard young girls in the future.