A St John Ambulance volunteer pictured himself in uniform on an online dating website in an attempt to find underage girls to abuse.
But unbeknown to David Cardwell he was actually having lewd chats with adult women acting as paedophile hunters.
NHS agency worker Cardwell, 52 and of Sunnyside Avenue in Weston-super-Mare, pleaded guilty to three charges of attempting sexual communication with a child as well as possessing prohibited images of children.
He was due to be sentenced today (June 6) but Judge Mark Horton adjourned the case until June 28, for the exact categorisation of Cardwell's sordid image stash to be determined.
The judge also reminded parents and children of the dangers of online chat groups.
He said: "All you have to do with some websites is tick you are over 18, that is all that's required."
Kenneth Bell, prosecuting, told Bristol Crown Court Cardwell went on to the Oasis dating website and chatted to who he thought were three girls.
But it transpired the 12, 13 and 14 year olds he spoke to were fictitious names, and were actually adult paedophile hunters posing as girls.
Mr Bell said Cardwell - an operating department practitioner - used the identity "Medic 112999" when he engaged in explicit conversations with the supposed children.
Mr Bell told the court Cardwell's intention was to have sexual intercourse with all three. However sex with someone under the age of 16 cannot be consensual by law and is illegal.
In one chat, Cardwell asked one of the girls: "Have you ever seen c**k?
"I would love to see a photo of you.
"I love your young body, I'd love to see it.
"I wish you were here."
Police called in arrested Cardwell and he declined to comment.
Some 15 "prohibited" images stored on his mobile phone included cartoons depicting children as young as four being abused.
The cartoon images were sampled from more than 2,000 such images in his possession, the court heard.
A spokesperson for North Bristol NHS Trust confirmed the agency worker's work bookings were cancelled and he was reported to his professional body.
Helen Blanchard, Director of Nursing and Quality at North Bristol NHS Trust said: “Mr Cardwell was an agency member of staff and not a permanent employee.
“As soon as this allegation came to light we immediately cancelled any bookings with Mr Cardwell through the agency and reported him to his professional body which suspended him pending the outcome of the criminal investigation process.”
