A man who attempted to engage in sexual behaviour with someone he believed to be a child is to be sentenced.

Leo Deen has today (May 2) been found guilty of a number of sexual offences following a trial at Chester Crown Court.

Over the course of around 10 days in the Macclesfield area, 61-year-old Deen messaged and video called a woman who he believed to be a 15-year-old girl.

DC Brett Oliver said: "Deen was told the Facebook user was 15 and he turned the conversation to a sexual nature.

"He even video called her several times, and the one time she did answer he was committing a sexual act, with the knowledge she was 15.

"He even told her to be a good girl at school.

"He certainly should not be trying to engage in sexual behaviour with a child.

"There is no excuse and that is why he is now facing the consequences of this dangerous predatory behaviour."

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The court heard how on October 29, 2023, a woman set up a Facebook profile posing as a 15-year-old girl.

She interacted with Deen's profile and they struck up a conversation.

Despite her having made it clear she was 15, Deen started to ask her about sex and tried to video call her a number of times between October 29 and November 7, but she didn't answer.

The woman reported this to the police in the early hours of November 7.

A short time later she received more message and another call in which Deen was lying on a bed and appeared to be performing a sexual act.

Deen was arrested on November 8 and appeared at Chester Crown Court on Monday (April 28, 2025) for the start of a trial.

On Friday (May 2) he was found guilty of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, attempting to cause or incite a girl 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity – no penetration, and attempting to cause a child 13 to 15 to watch or look at an image of sexual activity.

Deen, of HMP Altcourse, will appear at Chester Crown Court on Wednesday, May 7, to be sentenced.

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