Pervert, 36, tried to initiate sex chat with eight-year-old on online game before child’s mother took control of the app and exposed him

A 36-year-old perv tried to initiate a sexual conversation with an eight-year-old girl on an online game before the child’s mother took over the app and exposed him.

Owen Taylor approached the schoolgirl – who was playing Movie Star Planet on her tablet – claiming to be a teenager under a different username.

Taylor was actually 36 when he went to the game to send pictures of his body and go “naughty”, Newcastle Crown Court has been told.

Claire Anderson, prosecuting, said the defendant called her “cute” in chats he later tried to pursue on other online sites.

By discovering the message of the unknown, the girl’s mother changed her her daughter’s profile to allow the child to continue playing under a different name, but she was then horrified to find that Taylor contacted her again a few days later.

The mother then pretended to be the daughter so she could gather more information before later contacting the police.

Taylor, now 40, of Pendyfryn Farm, Dwygyfylchi, Wales, admitted having had sexual contact with a child and attempted to have sex communication with a child.

In an impact statement, the girl’s mother said her family’s lives have been forever changed by the ordeal.

She added that she felt “tummy sick” after making the findings on the app, which she was led to believe is safe for children of that age.

Judge Timothy Gittins sentenced Taylor to eight months behind bars.

He told her: “You targeted a website called Movie Star Planet which was clearly aimed at young children under the age of 13.

“Anyway, you knew she was clearly of such a young age from her profile picture.

“You engaged in discussions with her that you deliberately intended to develop not only into sexualized conversation, but also into sexualized images being exchanged.”

The judge said Taylor tried to “steer her away from the app to Snapchat’s most easily deletable messaging service.’

The court heard the child’s mother was horrified when she discovered the nature of the messages.

He added: “You asked him to delete the chat at some point and you deleted what you had on your device, or at least tried to.”

The girl’s mother changed her daughter’s profile to allow the child to continue playing under a different name, but was then horrified to find that Taylor contacted her again a few days later (file image)

“She (the mother) ended the chat and changed the name of her daughter’s profile on this website, but that didn’t deter you. Only a day or two later, you contacted her again on her new profile.

“Unfortunately, but unfortunately, she got worried and confused about what you were asking her to do.”

Unbeknownst to Taylor, the girl’s mother had taken over the account and continued to engage with the accused in an attempt to bring him down.

The judge added: ‘You continued to engage in a flirtatious conversation with who you thought you were an eight-year-old child and you sent more pictures of yourself and asked him for pictures.’

The court heard that “investigative” work was carried out by both parents of the girls, which ultimately led to Taylor’s arrest.

Robin Patton, defending, told the court that there were strong mitigating factors that could allow Taylor to be rehabilitated in the community.

Mr Paton said: ‘This case hits the detention threshold that the defendant is aware of and he brought a bag here.’

“He seems to be someone who really needs the help of probation and classes. There are strong positive signs that he can be rehabilitated.

The court also heard that Taylor lost her marriage.

However, the judge ruled that the matter was so serious that only immediate custody could be warranted.

Taylor will also be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for ten years.