A REPEAT sex offender who sent pictures of his privates to someone he thought was a 14-year-old girl is awaiting sentence.

Gordon Brown, 69, pleaded guilty to two charges of indecent behaviour towards a child aged between 13 and 16, who was in fact an adult, when he appeared from custody at Ayr Sheriff Court.

He admitted to causing an older child to look at a sexual image, as well as communicating indecently with an older child between August 11 and August 13 this year in Cumnock Road, Mauchline, with court papers stating that the conduct was carried out for sexual gratification, humiliating, distressing or alarming the victim.

Brown admitted sending sexual messages and attempting to meet a child in his car.

We previously reported his arrest in the Mauchline area - after he was stung by so-called 'paedophile hunters' online having made contact with a decoy profile posing as a child.

Procurator fiscal depute Craig Wainwright told the court Brown was committed for further examination and remanded in custody after bail was refused when he returned to court last week (November 11).

He said: "The witness is from Protect our Kids Online, the aim of the group is to keep children safe on social media.

"Prior to the dates of offending, he set up a profile on a dating app claiming to be 20 and called 'Rubie'. It used a picture of a female child, who was considerably younger.

"It lay dormant awaiting others to make contact.

"At 8.42pm on August 11 it was contacted by the accused using a profile named Gordon, the profile was of the accused standing topless. It said he was 68 and from Kilmarnock.

"He repeatedly told 'Rubie' 'she' was 'gorgeous'.

"He stated he was going for a shower and he was 'stripped naked' and 'getting cold'.

"During the exchange 'she' said 'she' was really 14-years-old. He stated 'If you weren't so young I could show you'."

The prosecutor added: "'She' said 'she' would not be able to see and didn't want to get in trouble.

"He said 'she' was gorgeous and offered to send a picture in his boxer shorts.

"The conversation moved to WhatsApp. During the exchange, he said he took images of himself after getting out the shower and asked if sending a pic 'would cheer her up'."

Brown replied saying 'it was up to you'. He told the profile 'I will let you see it', then sent an image of his erect penis.

Brown then sent an image of his lower half boxer shorts exposed and sent a further image.

Messages continued, with repeated references to him being naked and in the showers.

The fiscal depute added: "He sent other images of himself with his face visible and [privates] exposed.

"At no point did Rubie invite contact."

Brown was later reported to police and confessed to communicating with 'Rubie' during an interview with officers.

Representing Brown during the hearing, solicitor John Gallagher reserved any plea in mitigation given the nature of the offences ahead of criminal justice social work reports and a risk assessment being completed.

Sheriff Shirley Foran said: "You will be remanded in custody in the meantime.

"Regarding the nature of the offence you will be subject to the registration requirements of the sex offences legislation.

"The extent will be made known to you at final disposal."

He was returned to custody and is due to return to Ayr Sheriff Court at a later date.