Terence Burke, 61, of Croydon Road, pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child at a Bromley Magistrates’ Court hearing in January.
The charge states that the communication took place between November 2 and November 9, 2023.
“For the purpose of of obtaining sexual gratification” he attempted to communication with a girl under 16 “who he did not reasonably believe to be 16 or over”, court records state.
The communication included expressing his desire to perform oral sex on her.
Last Monday (February 17) Burke appeared at the same court for sentencing.
It was decided that only a custodial sentence would be appropriate due to the fact that images were exchanged and the communication went on for eight days.
But ultimately magistrates decided to suspended the six month sentence for 18 months, meaning he won’t see the inside of a cell unless he offends again during that time or breaches the conditions of his sentence.
Burke was ordered to complete the Horizon programme for sex offenders and sign the sex offenders register for seven years.
