A MAN caught by paedophile hunters talking to a 'schoolgirl' online took the stand to claim it was a fantasy.

Simon Bebbington denies attempting to incite a child in sexual activity between January 20 and February 10.

The 26-year-old, who was assisted in the dock at Oxford Crown Court by an intermediary, told jurors he meant nothing by sexual messages he sent online, claiming it was not 'for real'.

During the trial, jurors were told John Stokes, of organisation Letzgo Hunting, created a fake profile pretending to be schoolgirl called Amy Johnson on social media site Tagged.

Prosecutor Neil King said Bebbington contacted the 'girl', making sexual advances and believing he was talking to a child.

He said: “The prosecution say these series of events give rise to a criminal offence. The fact that there was not a 13-year-old is why it is an attempt.”

Quizzing the defendant today, King questioned why he asked if she thought he was 'fit' or 'hot' when he first messaged the 'girl' on the site, who told him she was 13.

Bebbington, of Portway, Banbury, replied by telling the court he was 'only asking'.

The defendant said at one point he believed the schoolgirl was between 16 and 17, revealing soon after he knew she was 13 but continued talking to her as part of a 'fantasy' in his mind.

When questioned why he was sending sexual messages and asking for a picture of her in school uniform, Bebbington replied “I don’t know”.

Mr King continued: “Why did you keep messaging a 13-year-old about sex?”

The defendant replied: “I don’t know, it was only a fantasy. I did not know she would keep messaging me back.”

Bebbington continued to deny he was trying to 'encourage' the 'girl' to engage in any sexual activity, telling the jury he knew it was wrong.

The trial continues.