A "lonely" 34-year-old man groomed someone he thought was a young girl he met on Facebook, a court has heard.
Ashley Mark Hobbs contacted the profile of a 14-year-old on the site and after striking up an initially innocent conversation began sending a series of explicit messages.
In reality he was communicating with a member of a so-called paedophile hunter group who was operating the fake account. When arrested Hobbs denied having any sexual interest in children.
Swansea Crown Court heard that in June this year Hobbs made contact with a Facebook profile which appeared to be that of a 14-year-old girl.
In fact had been set up and was being run by woman who belonged to a group called Our Team.
Stephen Rees, prosecuting, said the pair began messaging each other but within a matter of weeks "the conversation became sexual".
Hobbs then sent a series of lurid messages to the girl's profile asking her about her sexual history and experience and telling her "it only hurts the first time".
The defendant then encouraged the girl to perform sex acts on herself, telling her to send him pictures so he could see if she was "doing it right".
The matter was reported to police and Hobbs was arrested on July 28. In interview he admitted contacting the girl because he was "lonely and wanted to talk to someone" but denied having any sexual interest in her.
Mr Rees said Hobbs was estranged from his wife, with whom he has children.
Hobbs, of Trefenter, Ceredigion, admitted attempted sexual communication with a child and attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.
The court heard he has a previous conviction for sexual assault from 2012, when he had slapped a woman's bottom, as well as convictions for attempted robbery, battery, and harassment.
In January this year he was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison suspended for 24 months for breaching a restraining order and in June was given a community order for a further breach.
Dyfed Thomas, for Hobbs, reminded the court the charges were "attempt" offences as there had not in fact been a real 14-year-old girl behind the Facebook profile.
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Judge Paul Thomas QC jailed Hobbs for a total of two years. Hobbs will serve up to half that period custody before being released on licence.
He will be a registered sex offender for 10 years and was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for the same length of time.
Dyfed-Powys Police declined to release a custody photograph
