AN undercover Cheshire Polie officer posing as a young girl was sent obscene sexualised images by a man.

Richard Buchanan engaged in sex chats with the officer, who he believed was a 13-year-old girl, for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification.

The 40-year-old was snared in the sting and police raided his home, seizing the device he was communicating with.

He was later charged with attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to cause a child to sexual activity.

Buchanan appeared to be sentenced at Warrington Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, December 3, where he was told that his actions merited an immediate prison sentence.

Prosecutor Leanne Gallagher told the court how between May 21 and August 20, 2021, Cheshire Police received intelligence that a Kik Messenger user was in communications with a person using the username Amber2007S.

This account was purporting to be a 13-year-old girl named Amber, but it was in fact controlled by an undercover police officer tasked with identifying online child sex offenders.

The user snared by the officer was Buchanan, who at the time claimed to be a 39-year-old man from Padgate.

During the sexualised chats, the defendant sent two obscene photos of himself, one of which was himself lay down showing his erect penis, with the face matching that set as his profile picture.

He also made lewd comments about sexual things he would like to do with the girl.

Police executed a warrant at his Warrington home in October 2021, arrested him and seized a device capable of accessing the internet.

In defence of his client, Jonathan Condor referenced the fact that he has never been in trouble with the police before, his guilty pleas at the first opportunity and his health problems.

“The issue for the court is how to avoid this from happening again. He has no history of this sort of thing in the past,” the solicitor said, adding that Buchanan was ‘clearly ashamed’.

“The probation service is of the view that it can work with him, and that he is suitable for the Horizon program and rehabilitation activity requirement days.”

Before sentencing, addressing the significant age disparity between the defendant and the ‘girl’, chair magistrate Stephen Walton said: “There is no doubt in the bench’s mind that these matters cross the custodial threshold.”

Buchanan, of Brick Street in the town centre, was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison and made the subject of sex offender registration and notification requirements for seven years.

He was also told he must pay costs to the Crown Prosecution Service of £120 and a surcharge to fund victim services of £128.

The defendant is due to appear back before the court later this month regarding a sexual harm prevention order designed to limit his ability to further sexual offences.