A 22-YEAR-OLD man sent sexual messages to a police officer posing as a 12-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy, Jedburgh Sheriff Court has been told. 

Thomas Lockey pleaded guilty to the offences which happened in June last year and February this year at a house in Westside, Denholm.

The court heard that Lockey had used the social media messaging platform Kik to make contact with what he thought were youngsters.

But he was actually communicating with an undercover online operative from Police Scotland. 

He sent the 12-year-old girl photos and asked her for “naughty” pictures. 

Lockey asked the boy if he was feeling 'horny' and asked him if he had ever “had fun with guys”. 

Lockey, who now lives at Hale near Manchester, was given 18 months supervision as part of a community payback order. 

He was also made subject to the notification requirements of the Sexual Offences Act for the next 18 months.