A paedophile trapped by a vigilante sting when he tried to incite two young girls to send intimate photos of themselves over the internet is behind bars tonight.

John Derek Sandham thought he was talking to an 11-year-old girl called Sarah and a 13-year-old girl called Elle in April and May last year.

The 37-year-old bricklayer, of Carmel near Holywell, contacted them via Facebook Messenger and after initial greetings the conversations quickly became sexualised a judge at Mold Crown Court heard.

Sandham, who called himself David and claimed to be from Rhyl, sent both 'girls' intimate photographs and pornographic videos to both girls and asked them to send him images of themselves.

He was handed a 42 month prison sentence and his details will remain on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Judge Niclas Parry said the offences were serious because he had targeted two young girls and had been persistent in communicating with them.

"Mercifully no children were harmed because there were no children," he remarked.

Prosecuting barrister Ffion Tomos told the court both 'girls' had indicated their ages at the outset and often repeated that information.

Members of the vigilante group discovered Sandham whereabouts on an online dating website and arranged to meet. Police were alerted and he was arrested.

When interviewed Sandham insisted he believed the people he was communicating with were adults pretending to be children.

Sandham's mobile phone was seized by officers and forensically examined.

Ms Tomos said evidence was found that Sandham had been downloading indecent images of children and distributing some of them to others.

Extreme pornographic images involving sex acts between females and animals were also found.

Sandham initially denied all 11 charges he faced and a trial was due to have been held last month. But he admitted the charges when he appeared in court in March. Sentence was adjourned until today for reports to be prepared.

Defence counsel Simon Rogers accepted the nature of the offences made a jail term likely but urged the court to consider suspending the sentence.

He said Sandham's best mitigation was his guilty plea and was motivated to address issue with alcohol and drug abuse.