A WOOLSTON paedophile arranged to meet who he thought was a 13-year-old boy for sex.

Much to Ezra Sutcliffe’s surprise, the ‘boy’ was actually an undercover police officer.

Sutcliffe was intercepted by police as he headed to meet the 'teen' with lubricant in his pocket.

The 24-year-old appeared before Liverpool Crown Court today, Thursday, for sentencing after pleading guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to arrange the commission of a sex assault of a child.

At an earlier hearing, prosecuting, Arthur Gibson explained how Sutcliffe, of Linden Close, starting speaking to who he thought was a boy called Aidan on Grindr in November last year.

The pair then switched to talking on Snapchat where the defendant, who believed that Aidan was 13, revealed he was 23.

He asked Aidan what school he attended and told him that he wanted to get him naked.

The undercover police officer sent Sutcliffe a stock picture of a teenager, to which the defendant replied ‘you are cute’.

The court heard how Sutcliffe then asked if he wanted to meet near the shops on Dam Lane that afternoon.

A meeting was arranged and Sutcliffe sent a picture of himself making his way to the area.

This led to a police operation being put in place and Sutcliffe was then intercepted and arrested.

He was found to be carrying lubricant wrapped up in his pocket.

Defending, Philip Tully said how his client has suffered major trauma in his life and that he has PTSD as well as anxiety and depression.

He also said that the offending only took place over a ‘very, very short space of time’ and that Sutcliffe’s conduct was ‘completely out of character’.

Sutcliffe was handed a two-year prison sentence suspended for two years.

He must complete up to 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days and attend sessions of a sex offenders programme.