A PAEDOPHILE shared a “fantasy” about sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl with “like-minded people” as well as sending them vile indecent images of children.

Darren Curtin, 54, from Barry, was jailed after he supplied hundreds of images which Judge Michael Fitton QC said were “deeply degrading and perverted”.

Prosecutor Steven Donoghue told how Curtin had downloaded and distributed photographs and films of girls and boys being sexually abused on his Samsung Galaxy mobile phone.

They included victims aged from a baby of around 12 months to 15-year-olds, Cardiff Crown Court heard.

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Mr Donoghue said he was exchanging filth with “two other like-minded people” and claimed to them he was sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl.

The prosecutor said the defendant was receiving “supportive and congratulatory messages about what he had done to her” from his fellow paedophiles.

Police investigated Curtin’s allegation but it became apparent it was a “fantasy” of the defendant and there was no victim.

Curtin, formerly of Aberaeron Close, admitted three counts of distributing indecent images of children and three counts of the possession of indecent images of children.

The offences were committed in Barry on May 21.

When he was interviewed, the defendant told detectives he had committed his crimes out of “boredom” after being stuck at home and unable to work because of back pain.

He also added he was using cocaine.

Curtin was jailed for 12 months in July after swindling his own mother out of £15,000.

Timothy Evans, mitigating, said: “The defendant is dreadfully ashamed at what he’s done and of falling into that dark pit.

“This is why he wanted to cooperate with the police.”

Mr Evans added: “He will be homeless when he comes out of prison. He’s got a bleak future to come out to.”

Judge Fitton jailed Curtin for two years and told him he would have to register as a sex offender for 10 years.

He was also made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order until November 2030.