Billy Herbert, of Bewsey Road, Bewsey, pleaded guilty to one offence dating back to February last year of engaging in sexual communication with a child.
The 25-year-old appeared before Warrington Magistrates Court on Wednesday for sentencing.
Prosecuting, Charlie Hayward said the victim in the case had added the defendant on Snapchat and made it immediately clear she was 13 years old.
He said the victim was ‘vulnerable’ due to health conditions and a diagnosis of both autism and ADHD.
Herbert sent the child an image of his erect penis on the social media platform.
Further disturbing messages were sent by the 25-year-old to the victim over Snapchat which included him saying ‘what do you look like’, ‘you can date me xx’ and ‘send me a pic’.
Herbert then said ‘show me more baby’, ‘yes baby’ and confessed his love to her in two messages.
The sentencing was heard at Warrington Magistrates Court (Image: NQ)
This came to an end, Mr Hayward explained, when the child’s mother and sister found her phone and discovered the messages on Snapchat.
Her mum reported the incident to Cheshire Police.
Police officers were able to trace the Snapchat account back to the IP address of the defendant, who lives in supported living accommodation.
Herbert was then arrested and taken in for questioning.
He has no previous convictions, the prosecutor added.
Concluding the sentencing deputy district judge Andrew Teate handed the defendant a custodial sentence of 8 months suspended for 18 months.
He ordered Herbert to complete 25 Rehabilitation Requirement Days and must sign onto the sex offenders register. Notification requirements were also implemented for the next seven years.
