A PENSIONER sent sexual messages through social media to an undercover police officer thinking he was in conversation with a 13-year-old girl, Selkirk Sheriff Court has been told.

Philip McGill engaged on an on-line chatstream on three separate dates with a young female he thought was called Kelly.

Despite being told on a number of occasions she was 13 and a school pupil, the chat was described as "sexualised" with the 70-year-old asking her about her school uniform and underwear.

The messages also contained details about acts he would like to carry out with her.

But the court heard McGill was actually in conversation with an undercover police officer from the cyber crimes unit after a report had been received in January about online communications from his mobile phone number.

He pleaded guilty to intentionally sending written communications to a child under 16 and engaging in sexualised conversation with her through social media from his home between July 5 and 11 last year.

Depute fiscal Tessa Bradley said that a search warrant was obtained for McGill's home in Bellfield Crescent, Eddleston, near Peebles.

Two mobile phones and a laptop were recovered with one of the phones identified as being involved in the on-line conversations.

McGill told police he recalled the username of the girl he thought was called Kelly but not the content of the conversations.

Ms Bradley said in due course he was arrested and released to appear in court on an undertaking.

Defence lawyer Mark Harrower said his client lived with his wife and put forward a letter from her outlining how the case had affected her.

Sheriff Kevin Drummond called for a Criminal Justice Social Work Report to be prepared and deferred sentence until July 30.

McGill was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for five years - the actual fixed period to be determined when he is sentenced next month.