A SEX offender stung sending indecent messages to what he believed to be girls was fined for failing to keep in contact with police before Christmas.

Philip Penders, 60, was caught making lewd comments to what he believed were two 14-year-old girls, promising to top-up their mobile phones in exchange for topless photos.

However, he was speaking to two members of Child Protectors Scotland (CPS), who then ambushed him at his home in Kilwinning’s Muirside Court.

Penders, now of Young Street, Ardrossan, admitted failing to update police on his personal details last month.

He was fined £210 when his case was back before Kilmarnock Sheriff Court last week [Tuesday, January 12].

We reported in 2018 how Penders contacted his first target – a ‘14-year-old girl’ called ‘Sam’ – on December 12 of 2017. He urged Sam to send topless pictures of herself. When this was refused, Penders became angry and sent her graphic images and vile messages.

He struck again when a member of CPS created a profile of a teen called ‘Amy’.

Penders was sentenced to a Community Payback Order with supervision for three years and placed on the Sex Offenders register.