Richard Dean, 46, pleaded guilty in the County Court on Tuesday to using a carriage service to procure a person believed to be under 16 for sexual activity, and using a carriage service to transmit indecent communications to a person believed to be under 16.

Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions prosecutor John Grant told the court Dean used Facebook to contact the purported teenager between April 11 and July 4 this year.

The 14-year-old girl’s profile was in fact set up and operated by the Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team.

The court heard Dean sent messages to the ‘girl’ that included, “How old are you, baby?” and “I know you are young and I’m old, does that bother you?”

Over the course of the three months, Dean also told the ‘girl’ he would like to have sex with her, described sexual acts, and asked her for nude images of herself.

Between April 17 and May 16, Dean also sent images of his erect penis.

Dean arranged with the ‘girl’ that she travel to Bendigo on July 4, but the day before, told her his mother was in hospital and he could no longer meet up.

Dean was arrested soon after, when police raided his home.

In interview, he said the ‘girl’ had told him she was 16 years old, claimed he had only asked her for pictures of her face, and initially denied sending photos of his penis, before saying he had sent one.

Dean’s defence counsel, Tony Lavery, submitted his client had pleaded guilty at an early stage.

Mr Lavery said Dean had lied to the ‘girl’ about his mother being in hospital to back out of the agreement to meet up. He said his client had also deleted all the material from his phone.

Dean appreciated the wrongfulness of his actions, Mr Lavery said, and realised meeting the ‘girl’ would make his actions more grave.

“He’s ashamed of what he’s done, he’s more ashamed it’s been public in some way… What he’s done is known to others, and he’s ashamed of that,” Mr Lavery said.

Mr Lavery said Dean’s depression was “troubling him significantly” at the time of the offending, and he had ceased taking his medication.

Dean had not installed Facebook on a new phone, Mr Lavery said, nor accessed the social media site since his arrest.

“His eyes are open to the risks that face him,” he said.

The court heard a forensic psychologist’s report indicated Dean had a low to medium risk of re-offending by one test, and a moderate and/or potentially low-moderate risk by another.

“It would be my submission this man is a good candidate for rehabilitation, he’s got good prospects,” Mr Lavery said.

But Mr Grant said offending of the sort committed by Dean was serious and warranted a term of imprisonment.

He said children should be safe in their homes and classrooms, but this offending was invasive, and “very difficult to detect”.

Judge Irene Lawson ordered Dean be assessed for a sex offenders program before sentencing.

The matter has been adjourned to January 28.

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