A MAN aged 50 attempted to meet a 14-year-old girl at Bradford Bus Station after offering to buy her a pink dress and a pink bra.

Faisal Sharif engaged in sexualised online chat with ‘Sophie’ who was in fact an adult member of Predator Exposure, Bradford Crown Court heard.

Sharif, of Apsley Crescent, Manningham, Bradford, was today sentenced on a video link to HMP Leeds where he was remanded.

He pleaded guilty at the magistrates’ court to attempting to meet a girl under 16 following grooming and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

Prosecutor Jordan Millican said Sharif sent a Facebook friend request to a decoy profile set up by Predator Exposure, a group that identified people using the internet for sexual contact with children.

The decoy ‘Sophie’ said she was 14 and Sharif said he was 32. After that there was ‘regular and consistent communication,’ the court heard.

Sharif told ‘Sophie’ she was pretty and that he loved her. He said he would buy her a pink dress and a pink bra and asked for pictures of her in her nightie.

“If you love me, send me…” he urged.

He asked to meet her at Bradford Bus Station for ‘a walk and nice food.’ Sharif then asked for another photo and the adult decoy sent an image of herself with a filter that made her look younger. She was wearing a white shirt and he called her ‘gorgeous.’ On September 16, Sharif went to Bradford Bus Station intending to meet ‘Sophie’ but was intercepted by members of Predator Exposure. The police were called and he was arrested.He made no comment when questioned by the police.

Dr Anthony Richardson said in mitigation that it was ‘a pseudo child’ and no harm was caused. Sharif had no previous convictions and a community order would be appropriate.

Recorder Andrew Dallas told Sharif he had initiated contact with what he thought was a girl aged 14 who was in fact an adult who had set up a decoy child ‘to catch people like you.’ For nearly two weeks he messaged her daily, telling her she was pretty and asking for ‘effectively naked’ photographs.

He tried to meet her at the bus station for sexual purposes but was apprehended.

Sharif was of previous good character and had been locked up for the first time. He had been living alone and drinking too much, Recorder Dallas said.

He was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, with 240 hours of unpaid work and up to 50 rehabilitation activity days. Sharif must sign on the sex offender register for ten years and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order was made for the same period.