A Bradford man has been given a two-year suspended custodial term after being caught by an internet watchdog organisation while trying to set up a physical encounter with someone he thought was a teenage girl.

The court was told that Qumar Shah, from Ringwood Avenue in Little Horton, waited a lengthy 18-month period before facing charges, meaning his sentencing came more than two years after his digital conversation with the fake profile.

According to his lawyer Laura McBride at Bradford Crown Court, the internet safety organisation had posted footage of her client’s arrest online, leading to him experiencing hostility from locals and receiving intimidating messages.

The accused, now 31 years old, admitted guilt to charges of attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming and attempting to make a child watch a sexual act.

Presiding over the matter, Judge Richard Gioserano issued a two-year prison sentence that will be deferred for two years.

Shah was also instructed to carry out 200 hours of unpaid community service and take part in as many as 30 rehabilitation activity sessions.

The judge ordered that Shah must notify police as a sex offender for the next ten years and comply with Sexual Harm Prevention Order restrictions during that same period.

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Gioserano explained how someone working with the investigation organisation had been posing as a 13-year-old girl, while the accused had concealed his actual age.

His Honour observed that the accused had put in maximum effort to arrange a meeting with the person he believed to be a 13-year-old girl.

The judge said he had reviewed a psychological evaluation describing Shah’s mild learning disability and his autism spectrum condition.

According to the judge, the accused’s difficulties in these areas had resulted in a socially isolated and lonely existence. However, this social isolation did not excuse this type of criminal conduct.

The judge noted that the accused had been caught red-handed by the organisation and expressed puzzlement about the police inquiry, questioning what investigative work remained for the authorities and stating that the 18-month delay in bringing charges was incomprehensible.

According to Miss McBride, her client experienced deep shame about his behaviour and felt self-loathing. She explained that he had lost his few social relationships and suffered exclusion after the organisation posted video footage on social media sites.