Undercover police officers caught a man who thought he was chatting to a 12-year-old girl online.
Malcolm Stephenson believed he had been speaking to a youngster called Emma in an online chatroom but it was in fact a police officer posing as a child.
Their conversations became sexual in nature and Stephenson was charged with an offence of trying to engage in sexual communication with a child.
The 63-year-old, formerly of Hollywood Avenue, Gosforth, but now staying in temporary accommodation, pleaded guilty to the charge at North Tyneside Magistrates' Court.
Prosecutor James Long said Operation Reveal was run by undercover police in the Yorkshire and Humber area.
In August 2018, one officer posed as 'Emma' and Stephenson began talking to her online.
"The conversation became sexualised," said Mr Long. "It becomes abundantly clear from messages backwards and forwards that the defendant knew well the age of the girl he believed he was communicating with."
Judith Curry, representing Stephenson, told the court there had been five chats over a space of six weeks, and during that time he was sent a mobile number and asked to "Skype" but he declined.
On several occasions, the 'girl' invited him to text her or go on Skype but he didn't do that, Ms Curry said.
She added: "He is given the mobile phone number three times. He never contacts that mobile number.
"At the suggestion of Skype, he straight away leaves the conversation.
"He has never tried to hide the fact of who he is and what his age is.
"When you look at the conversation, the length of time, the type of communication, there have been opportunities to take things forward, which he has not done. You have to give credit for that.
"He's a gentleman of good character. There was nothing else found on any of his devices."
However the prosecutor asked magistrates to look at the full transcript of the chats before sentencing the defendant, which he said included inappropriate conversations.
Magistrates decided to send the case to Newcastle Crown Court for sentence and released Stephenson on unconditional bail until October 22.
