The prosecution case was that the defendant, of Dalegarth Avenue, Harraby, was aware of the age of the girl he was communicating with. Despite that knowledge, he sent the teenager intimate images of himself.

He did this between February 1, 2021 and March 19 of the same year, for the purpose of “obtaining sexual gratification,” said prosecutor Carl Gaffney.

District Judge Temperley said he could draw back from imposing custody because the help Greensmith would get while serving a lengthy community order will better protect the public, particularly “younger females.”

He imposed a three-year community order with three requirements. They are:

• That Greensmith completes an accredited sexual offending programme;

• That he completes 30 rehabilitation activity days.

• And that he completes 200 hours of unpaid work as a direct alternative to prison.

Greensmith was given a sexual harm prevention order which bans him from having unsupervised contact with any female child unless this is inadvertent; or with the with the consent of the child’s parents and they are aware of his offending history.

The judge imposed an order banning any contact with the victim for five years; and the defendant will remain on the Sex Offender Register for the same period.

He must pay costs of £250, a £95 victim surcharge and £500 compensation to the teenage girl who was the victim.