Wigan 64-year-old who tried to make sexual contact with schoolgirl is spared jail

Edmund Coughlin, 64, of Hereford Close, Ashton, appeared before a Bolton Crown Court judge, having already pleaded guilty to plead guilty to communicating with a girl under the age of 16 and sending a picture of himself to her for his sexual gratification, plus a further charge of making a category C indecent image of a child.

He was given a six-month custodial sentence but it was suspended for two years. Coughlin must complete 40 days of rehabilitation activities and 80 hours of unpaid work, pay costs and a victim services surcharge totalling £553, observe a sexual harm prevention order for seven years and sign on the Sex Offenders' Register for the same period of time.

gle charge of threatening criminal damage to police on April 24. He was remanded on unconditional bail until August 22 when a trial will take place.