A 48-YEAR-OLD man who admitted sending naked images of himself to a person posing as a 14-year-old girl has been ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work as an alternative to custody.

Roy Storey, of Earl Street, Hawick, also offered to send the decoy person underwear, and asked her to send images of herself to him.

Jedburgh Sheriff Court heard he was caught when the decoy – whose profile under the name of Gemma initially stated she was 18 – asked him for details of his address so she could send a friendship bracelet to him.

But instead of the 14-year-old girl visiting him, a group of people turned up at Storey’s home to confront him.

When police arrested Storey in November 2021 he was found in possession of personal amounts of cannabis and amphetamine – both Class B drugs.

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Storey told officers he sent the photographs of his manhood – even after being told the girl was underage – because he was “drunk and confused”.

He pleaded guilty to all three charges.

Defence lawyer Ross Dow explained his client had visited a website which was for adults but admitted engaging with the person posing as the 14-year-old.

He added: “It was a degree of recklessness and he was under the influence at the time.”

Reports stated he was a low risk of reoffending.

In addition to the unpaid work he was given a six-month night-time home curfew between the hours of 7pm and 7am.

His name will also be on the sex offenders register for the next five years.