A father-of-two sent sexual images and messages to someone he believed was a 14-year-old boy, a court heard.

Ronald De Leon, 53, also arranged to meet up with the child – who was actually an undercover officer – at a McDonald’s after messaging on Grindr and WhatsApp but then bailed out 45 minutes beforehand.

The teenager, calling themselves “Connor”, exchanged messages with 53-year-old De Leon over a three-day period in January 2022.

On February 14, Maidstone Crown Court heard the messages between De Leon, who called himself Andre, and the officers included “Connor” confirming several times he was just 14.

Despite this, De Leon, from Staplehurst, continued sexually explicit conversations with the officers, asked for sexual images, and sent some of himself.

De Leon confirmed in interview with police that the images of an adult man in boxer shorts with an erection were of him, although he also said some were edited to enhance them.

The communication between “Connor” and “Andre” from January 10 and January 13, 2022, first took place on the dating app Grindr before moving to WhatsApp.

Prosecutor Trevor Wright said the subject of age was raised early in the conversation and “Connor” said he was 14 years old, while De Leon pretended to be 27.

When asked if his age was a problem, De Leon said: "As long as you're happy with it."

Additionally, when the 14-year-old asked if his sexual inexperience - having claimed he had never had relations with anyone and had not yet confessed his homosexuality to his family - would be a problem, De Leon suggested it wasn’t and sent explicit messages.

When “Connor”'s age was raised as a possible issue, De Leon warned the teenager to be careful about who he told about his sexuality.

He also said the two of them should be discreet about their communications.

De Leon sent several explicit photographs of himself and repeatedly asked the youngster to send ones in return.

When the police officers posing as Connor sent a photo of a teenage boy, De Leon said: "I like your face and smile."

On January 13, De Leon and “Connor” had arranged to meet at a branch of McDonald’s in Maidstone at 1pm, but De Leon called it off approximately 45 minutes beforehand.

The undercover officer said he was already in the centre of Maidstone for the meeting, but De Leon refused, saying he was tired, and when “Connor” suggested rearranging for a later date De Leon said no.

Officers visited De Leon's home later that day and under police interview he maintained he had never had serious intentions of going to the meeting.

His home was searched and boxer shorts matching those of the sexually explicit images sent to “Connor” were found, which were later confirmed by De Leon to be his and the photos were of him.

Dominic Water, representing De Leon, said his client had maintained throughout that in all communications on Grindr he had never had any serious intent to meet with anyone he messaged.

He said the experience was “fulfilling a fantasy” and De Leon had never believed Connor was 14, instead believing they were also lying about their age as he was.

De Leon claimed he had joined Grindr after he had found out his wife had been unfaithful.

‘You engaged in hugely explicit conversations, and Connor made plain his sexual experience was limited, but still you did nothing to distance yourself...’

This, combined with an extended period of unemployment, caused him to feel anxiety, suffer from depression and low self-esteem, and act “impulsively”.

The choice to use the app had been a result, Mr Water argued, of loneliness, depression and was “a cry for help”.

Mr Water said De Leon was not sexually interested in children, and when the police searched his home they found no evidence of that.

Additionally, there had been no further incidents of this nature or other illegal activities since January 2022 by De Leon, and Mr Water argued he was not a risk to children.

He said De Leon felt “ashamed” of his actions and “severe embarrassment” but his main priority was protecting his family as a punishment of jail time would severely impact them.

Mr Water added: “He is primarily thinking of his family and wants to be the father his two children deserve to have.”

De Leon, although unemployed, drives his wife to work as she cannot drive herself and then returns to care for his children.

Mr Water argued if De Leon was given a custodial sentence and was sent to prison, it would have severe adverse effects on the family as his wife would have to find other employment and it would also mean additional costs to her in terms of childcare.

De Leon had previously admitted sexual communications with a child.

Mr Water, taking the above into consideration, asked for the custodial sentence be changed to a community sentence as the probation service had evaluated him as not being a risk, however he was rebuffed.

Judge Catherine Moore said De Leon had not fully “faced up” to his actions and the fact he had not actually met up with “Connor” was not relevant as he had sent extensive explicit messages.

She said: “You had no idea Connor was an undercover police officer. He told you he was 14, something he repeated.

“He talked about school and his family, and you were not honest about your age.

“You engaged in hugely explicit conversations, and Connor made plain his sexual experience was limited, but still you did nothing to distance yourself.

“There was a discussion of meeting up. I recognise that you were the one who called off the meeting, but there were plans made to meet - you had made arrangements with a 14-year-old.

“Had Connor been a child, the damage to them would have been very significant.

“You have not fully faced up to the offence. I do not consider a community sentence to fully reflect the seriousness of this. Only a custodial sentence can be justified.”

The severity of the offence was deemed to be the most serious it could be.

De Leon was given a prison sentence of 12 months but it was suspended for 24 months, and he must carry out 25 days of rehabilitation activities and 80 hours of unpaid work.

Additionally, he will be required to inform police of any changes of address or identity for the next 10 years.

The phone De Leon used had been seized and is to be destroyed.

De Leon sat with his head down throughout the sentencing hearing, occasionally wiping his eyes.

A Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) application, which may mean De Leon is prevented from using certain devices in case he uses them for similar activities, was adjourned to be discussed at a later date.