A SEX offender had admitted breaching a court order by deleting a social media app containing online “chats” with girls claiming to be 14.

But George Raymond has denied four other charges relating to those sexualised chats, claiming he thought the “girls” he believed he was talking to, were older, based on user profiles.

Durham Crown Court heard none of the “girls”, going under the names ‘Lauri14’, ‘Hannah’ and ‘Jessie XO’, actually existed, as they were decoys posted online to catch paedophiles.

The hearing was told as part of a suspended prison sentence imposed at the court in April last year, for attempting to meet what he thought was a 14-year-old girl for “naughties”, in his words, he was made subject of a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

When police examined devices in his possession capable of internet access, in June, it was found that he had intentionally deleted a “meet for you” app containing chats with those “girls”.

Appearing via video link to Durham Prison, Raymond admitted it put him in breach of the order.

But he denied three counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and one of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.

The defendant, of West Avenue, Murton, was remanded to remain in custody until his trial, in December.