A 'very isolated' man 'succumbed' to his 'selfish desires' when he sent a picture of his genitals to a 'child', a court heard.
Ian Forsyth, 42, was confronted by paedophile hunters at his home in Stockport, after a 20 minute online conversation with who he believed to be a 13-year-old girl.
He had initially been planning on speaking with an adult but made a 'grave error of judgement', the court was told.
Prosecutors said that Forsyth initiated conversation with the 'decoy' account, which was being run by an adult member of the group.
After some sexualised chat during the online conversation in July last year, he sent the picture of his genitals to the 'child'.
The paedophile hunter group were able to find Forsyth's address and went to confront him a few days later.
Forsyth said: "Yes it's me, I'm a d*** head, I shouldn't be doing this."
Prosecutor Mark Brookes told Minshull Street Crown Court that Forsyth said he had 'fell into a trap' and felt 'ashamed'.
Sentencing, Judge Mark Savill told Forsyth: "You know as well as I do, that you believed this to be a real child.
"You succumbed, I'm afraid, to your own selfish desires.
"It was a significant lack of self control, and an error of judgement in an otherwise blameless life."
The defendant's computer was seized but no indecent images were found on it.
The court was told Forsyth, who has no previous convictions, has since installed software on his computer to monitor his internet use and has paid to take part in a rehabilitation programme.
Forsyth, the court heard, is genuinely remorseful and has 'no intention' of committing similar crimes in the future.
The court was told he has a 'very isolated' life and has serious problems with his back which has left him unable to work.
Following the incident he has received 'threats'.
Judge Savill said it was a 'serious offence' but explained he was able to avoid sending Forsyth to prison.
He said Forsyth's behaviour was a 'one-off aberration'.
Forsyth, of Poise Brook Road, Offerton, admitted one count of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.
He was sentenced to an 18 month community order, and ordered to complete the Horizon programme for sex offenders.
