A court has heard how the wife of a man who was caught sending sexual messages to two 13-year-old girls is now in charge of the password to their family laptop.

Philip Horsburgh, of Kenton Road, Wokingham, was spared jail despite also sending a picture of his penis to the girls. 

The 72-year-old made online contact with the underage girls -- who were not real and whose personas were created by undercover police officers -- in the summer of 2019. 

Reading Chronicle:

He was made aware of the girls’ ages but continued to message them and told one of them to touch herself sexually, a court heard.

Horsburgh also sent a picture of himself touching himself to one of the girls.

However, the Wokingham man did not attempt to meet the girls and the contact ceased.

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His defence counsel Mr Walker said that since the incidents, his wife has changed the password on their family laptop and he is only allowed to use it under her supervision. 

The court heard how Horsburgh has been taking part in rehabilitative courses since the summer 2019 incidents. 

His barrister said: “He wants to show everyone else he will not behave like this again.” 

Reading Chronicle:

Sentencing, Her Honour Judge Real said: “This was a massive shock to your family but they have put in place measures so you do not go down this route again.”

With this in mind, Judge Real handed Horsburgh a 20-month prison sentence suspended for two years.

The 72-year-old will also have to take part in 40 rehabilitation activity requirement days and will be on the sex offenders register for ten years. 

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He was sentenced at Reading Crown Court on Monday, October 25 for two counts of attempting to incite a girl aged 13-15 in sexual activity, attempting to engage in sexual activity in the presence of a child, and two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.