A Witney man was snared by a so-called ‘paedophile hunter’ group.

Stewart Heather, 47, was caught sending explicit messages to what he thought was a 13-year-old girl in 2019.

The ‘girl’ was a fiction, created by members of a vigilante group to catch-out would-be sex offenders online.

In messages sent to the girl, who was called ‘Layla’, he spoke about cuddling her in bed, talked about previous sexual experiences and asked for photographs of her. He also encouraged the ‘girl’ to perform sex acts on herself.

Appearing before Oxford Crown Court on Thursday morning, Heather, of Schofield Avenue, Witney, admitted attempted sexual communication with a child, causing or inciting a child to engage in penetrative sexual activity and possession of cocaine and amphetamines.

The offences were committed in February 2019.

Judge Ian Pringle KC released Heather on bail to return to court on November 24 for sentence. He ordered a pre-sentence report to be prepared by the probation service.

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This story was written by Tom Seaward. He joined the team in 2021 as Oxfordshire's court and crime reporter.  

To get in touch with him email: Tom.Seaward@newsquest.co.uk

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