A WINCHESTER man who was snared by a paedophile hunter after he asked for nude photographs of a child, he believed was 12-years-old, has been spared prison.

Just three months after he was convicted of a raft of sexual offences, Dean Mould used the internet to ask a “12-year-old girl” to send pictures of herself naked.

But Mould, of Christchurch Road, was actually talking to “self-styled paedophile hunter”, who sent the images but later informed police. The 35-year-old was arrested.

He was charged with intentionally causing or inciting a girl under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity and breaching a sexual harm prevention order. He previously pleaded guilty.

On Wednesday, Winchester Crown Court was told that Mould breached the order as he had not informed police of a phone, he was using to access the internet.

In July last year Mould was found guilty of four offences of sexual communication with a child, eight counts of being in possession of indecent and extreme images and one of distribution. He offended again on October 27, but his criminality was not discovered until December 27.

During that sentencing a sexual harm prevention order and a supervision order was imposed. Mould, who is said to be “marred by learning difficulties”, was also given a care plan with a psychiatric team on his release from custody.

The court heard that Mould “did not want to engage” and the plan was not carried out.

In mitigation, Richard Martin said that there were several reasons set out in an updated psychiatric report why Mould should not be sent to prison.

He continued: “For somebody in his position it is very understandable that they maintain a position that they do not want help. Mr Mould knows that he has to obey people and that he has to go on courses."

Mr Martin said that here has been a “realisation from Mr Mould that he doesn’t want to go back to prison and that if he reverts to this sort of behaviour again it will get him locked up”.

“All, I submit, we can do is try again. Nothing is going to help if he is sent to prison.”

In sentencing, Judge Miller said: “I hoped when I sentenced you in July of last year that I would not be seeing you again. In fact, survived only about three months before you are committing offences again.”

Mould was given a three-year community order, with 40 rehabilitation days and must attend a sexual offending treatment programme.