A man from Sidcup who sent sexual messages to who he believed to be a 14-year-old girl has walked free from court. 

Andrew Manning, 50, of Parish Gate Drive in Sidcup, admitted attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child between February 3 and February 22. 

Court documents state that he sent the ‘girl’ messages about sex acts he’d like to perform on her. 

But Manning later found out that what he thought was a 14-year-old girl was actually a decoy account run by paedophile hunters. 

On February 22 Manning found himself confronted by the paedophile hunters who live streamed their encounter and reported him to police. 

Manning pleaded guilty to the charge on March 15 and appeared at Bexley Magistrates’ Court for sentencing on Wednesday (June 5). 

He was given a two-year community order including a 35-day rehabilitation programme. 

Mannin will also need to sign the sex offenders register for five years.