A SEX offender chef who sent obscene videos of himself to 'decoy' schoolgirls would have been given a police caution had prosecutors not intervened.

Steven Whiley would have been handed a caution by police for attempted sexual communication with two 'decoy' children if prosecutors had not overruled them and corrected the 'error', a court heard.

One of the decoys told Whiley nine times she was just 14 during the Facebook chat before he sent images of himself performing a sex act on himself and also video called the decoy during the act.

The Crown Prosecution Service rejected the disposal by way of a caution and pursued the case against the 26-year-old of Stoneford Lane, Evesham who appeared at Worcester Crown Court on Friday, the case finally being resolved more than four years after the offences were committed.

* Disgusted family face paedophile in court

* 'Confused' crash mum thought she was on school run

* Man accused of Worcester attempted murder dies

Whiley had already admitted two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child between April 3, 2017 and December 31, 2017 when he appeared for his sentence hearing.

The offences are categorised as 'attempts' because Whiley was not in reality communicating with a child on Facebook but with a decoy set up to catch online predators.

Gary Rutter, prosecuting, said Whiley was arrested on January 17, 2018 and accepted there had been 'several delays in the case'.

Whiley communicated with the decoy purporting to be a girl of 14, messaging her: "Hi, how are you?"

Mr Rutter said: "She replied that she was fine and she was 14, making it clear from the outset how old she was."

Whiley replied that he was performing a sex act upon himself and, during the course of that conversation, sent the decoy naked photographs of himself and also asked to video call her.

"He was told nine times by 'Katie' she was 14. At one point he referred to her as 'sexy 14'," said Mr Rutter.

Whiley could be seen performing a sex act upon himself during that video call.

At around the same time he also communicated with a second decoy, also describing herself as a girl of 14. Again he sent naked photographs of himself and performed an obscene act during a video call.

When arrested and cautioned, Whiley was heard to say: "I always check their ages."

However, he later made full and frank admissions. The maximum sentence that could be imposed for the offences was one of two years in prison.

Judge Martin Jackson said police had offered Whiley a caution in 2020. However, the prosecutor said that 'this had been done without Crown Prosecution Service approval' and was 'not something the Crown had suggested'.

"Police considered this suitable for a caution" said the judge.

Mr Rutter said he could give no reasons for the delay in the case other than the investigation itself. During that time Whiley, who had no other previous convictions or cautions, was released under investigation with no bail conditions.

Giles Nelson, defending, said conversations that took place between his client and the decoys were 'limited in duration'. Mr Nelson also said the offences took place at 'a sad time' for Whiley though did not provide further details in open court.

He also referred to Whiley's dyslexia, ADHD, depression and potential autism. He described him as a qualified chef.

Mr Nelson cited in mitigation 'the offer of a caution at the outset', the delay in the proceedings and admissions offered as long ago as January 17, 2018 - four years ago. Formal guilty pleas were entered on November 29 last year.

"The important point in addition to the anxiety he has suffered in relation to these proceedings, which he has had to fund himself, is that there isn't or hasn't been any other issues since" said Mr Nelson.

Judge Martin Jackson, sentencing, said: "I'm satisfied there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation."

He imposed a three year community order to include up to 40 rehabilitation activity requirement days, fined Whiley £750 and ordered him to pay prosecution costs of £340.

A five year sexual harm prevention order was made which restricts and monitors his use of the internet, devices, private browsers and anti-forensic software. As a convicted sex offender, he is also subject to notification requirements for the next five years.