A PAEDOPHILE was intercepted by police in Warrington as he waited to meet a ‘boy’ for sex.

Ezra Sutcliffe planned to meet who he thought was a 13-year-old boy on Dam Lane in Woolston.

But it was actually an undercover police officer.

When the then 23-year-old, of Linden Close, Woolston, was arrested, he was found to have lubricant wrapped up in his pocket.

Sutcliffe appeared before Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to attempted sexual communications with a child and attempting to arrange the commission of a child sex offence.

But his sentencing was adjourned until April to allow for a psychological assessment to be carried out.

During Wednesday’s hearing, prosecutor Arthur Gibson said that both offences relate to Sutcliffe’s intentions on social media with a boy who he believed was just 13 years old and who he wanted to meet for sex.

He said on May 30 last year, a few messages were exchanged on Grindr between Sutcliffe and the undercover police officer who went by the name of Aidan.

Then on November 21, Sutcliffe messaged Aidan out of the blue saying: “Do you wanna come mine?”

The pair exchanged messaged on Grindr and then switched to using Snapchat.

“The defendant gave his true age of 23 and at that point, the undercover officer said he was 13 and lived in Warrington,” said Mr Gibson.

It was heard how Sutcliffe then made references to having sex and asked the boy if he wanted to meet at 4.30pm near to the shops on Dam Lane.

Mr Gibson told the court how the defendant told the boy he wanted him to get naked and asked if he would do more than kiss.

The undercover officer then sent a stock image of a 13-year-old boy to which Sutcliffe replied ‘you are cute’.

Warrington Guardian: Liverpool Crown Court

After arranging to meet, Sutcliffe then sent a live image of him walking to the shops.

Liverpool Crown Court was told how a police operation was then put in place which led to the interception and arrest of Sutcliffe.

Upon his arrest, officers discovered Sutcliffe was carrying lubricant in his pocket.

Defending, Philip Tully said how the offences took place over a ‘very, very short period of time’.

He described his client, who he said has slow processing disorder, as ‘a vulnerable young man’ with mental health issues and said how he does not present as a typical 24-year-old.

Mr Tully said that Sutcliffe’s behaviour was out of character and that he was ‘clearly not thinking straight’.

Before adjourning the sentencing to April, Judge Garrett Byrne said: “He was a man who not only arranged to meet, but was at a location waiting to meet a child with lubricant with an intention to have sex.”

Judge Byrne decided that a full psychological assessment of Sutcliffe is needed before his sentencing can take place.

“The defendant should not take any particular comfort on this decision,” Judge Byrne added.

“The report may or may not assist him.

“At the end of the day, this is a very serious offence that has been committed.”