A 78-YEAR-OLD pensioner sent sick sex messages to a girl he thought was aged just 14.

Robert Stewart was snared by a paedophile hunter group after engaging in disgusting sex conversations which were deemed too extreme to be read out in court.

He also sent sex videos and a photo of his penis to ‘Madison’, a fake social media profile set up by paedo-hunters based in England.

Stewart initially denied being involved when confronted on his doorstep by the campaigners.

However, a court was told he now accepted his guilt and blamed his actions on being “bored during lockdown”.

Stewart, of Page Street, shuffled into the dock at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

He admitted that between May 19 and June 17, he sent sexualised messages repeatedly and indecent sexual images and videos to ‘Madison’ and attempted to cause a child to look at a sexual image.

Depute fiscal Jill Currie said a paedophile hunter group in Stoke-on-Trent had contacted a similar group based in Dundee and told them about the messages being sent by Stewart.

Members from the Dundee group then went to Stewart’s home and challenged him on the doorstep.

This encounter was videoed and shows Stewart denying it and the paedophile-hunters then saying they would be contacting the police with their information.

The depute said there were 50 pages of “extremely graphic” messages sent by Stewart, which she would be submitting as evidence.

Defence solicitor James Moncrieff asked for the messages not to be read out in court.

“They are not the sort of thing I think should be read in open court,” he added.

He conceded: “The messages are of a very graphic nature and he also sent a photo of his penis.”

The depute agreed about the extreme nature of the messages adding: “He was asking her to perform sexual acts upon herself.”

Mr Moncrieff said his client lives with his wife and is her carer, as she has various health problems.

The solicitor went on: “He accepts he sent the messages. He says he was bored during lockdown.

“He was flattered that someone of that age would be interested in him. He accepts the messages were extremely inappropriate and he’s brought shame upon himself.

“He’s ashamed and disgusted at his behaviour.”

Sheriff Charles Macnair called for reports and Stewart will be sentenced on October 28. He has been placed on the sex offenders' register.