A MAN from Tregaron set up a fake Facebook page in the name of a girl in the hope of persuading young girls to send him photographs of themselves naked.

Heulyn Evans, 22, posed as Ceri Ann Rees and made contact with several girls who were in the 13, 14 and 15 age bracket.

Swansea Crown Court heard how Evans “friended” them by pretending to be a teenage girl himself.

Evans, of Maesyrefail, Llwyngroes, admitted five offences of inciting children under the age of 16 to take photographs of themselves while naked.

One of the girls became suspicious and alerted a teacher and the police were called.

Officers traced Evans through his internet address.

Janet Gedrych, the barrister representing Evans, said he had not actually received any such photographs.

The judge, Mr Recorder Greg Bull, said members of the public were rightly outraged by people using Facebook to “trap” young girls and to fool “silly young girls” into sending photographs to men pretending to be women.

“You tried to engage them in lewd conduct but to the credit of the young ladies no photographs were sent. You need help,” added the judge.

Evans was made the subject of a three-year community order involving rehabilitation activities.

Mr Recorder Bull also made a sexual harm prevention order restricting Evans’ access to the internet.

And he warned Evans that if he breached the order he would go to jail.