A PAEDOPHILE sexually communicated with who he thought was a child after coming home from a holiday with his ex-wife, a court heard.

Antony Powell, of Devizes Road, pleaded guilty to sending sexual online messages to a person he thought was a girl under the age of 16 from August 16 until August 18, 2022.

The 40-year-old admitted to asking a decoy named 'Hollie' whether she was a virgin, if she liked to kiss with tongues and if she would have sex with her next boyfriend.

Powell also asked 'Hollie' for photographs of herself and told her how he wished she lived closer to his home in Salisbury so they could "spend the evening in each other's arms kissing".

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 Salisbury Magistrates' Court (Image: Newsquest)

This sting was part of Operation Meteor which deploys online decoys in the interest of public safety with the aim of identifying people who have a sexual interest in children.

Salisbury Magistrates' Court heard on Friday, July 26, how Powell had just returned from a holiday during which arguments broke out when he contacted 'Hollie'.

Rebecca Veasey, mitigating, said Powell had been attending therapy and he had since split from his marriage.

Ms Veasey added that the communication was done over a short period of time and claimed there was no harm done as "it's not a real person".

The court heard how Powell was a man of good character with no previous convictions.

Magistrates adjourned the case for sentencing on September 9 in Salisbury Magistrates' Court and released Powell on unconditional bail.