An elderly man was stung by police after the 12-year-old girl he thought he was chatting to online turned out to be an undercover officer.

Days after his last chat with the girl he knew as ‘Ella’, Russell Bergman, who is from Watford, answered a knock at his door to find police on the doorstep.

Bergman, 71, appeared at St Albans Crown Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child under 13, along with a second charge of attempting to engage in non-penetrative sexual activity with a girl under 13.

Prosecutor Adam Squibbs said Bergman chatted online with ‘Ella’ for just over a month between May 8 and June 15 last year.

The defendant’s profile picture was a close-up image of his crotch area in underpants.

The prosecutor added: “He spoke of his desire to touch Ella and rub himself against her. He encouraged her to masturbate on three occasions.”

Read more: Comedian and Camelot worker jailed for directing 'horrific' abuse of children

On June 30 last year, after it transpired Ella was actually an undercover police officer, Bergman was arrested and two mobile phones were seized. Following his sentencing, the phones will now be destroyed.

Referring to Bergman’s interview with officers, Mr Squibbs said: “He accepted he had spoken to Ella and said it was cheeky conversations and he had felt uncomfortable about speaking to her. He said he was grateful when it was over.”

Defending Bergman in court, Matthew Hardyman said his client was now ashamed and struggling to “come to terms” with what he’d done.

He said his client's offending had been a “fantasy” and it was never his plan to meet the girl.

Read more: Prisoners at The Mount in Bovingdon have 'too little to do'

Judge Foster told Bergman his behaviour had been “really quite disgusting” and said he was “lucky” not to be leaving via a prison van after being handed a two-year suspended jail sentence.

Bergman was also fined £425, ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work, and told he would have to attend 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days with probation staff to address his offending behaviour.

He was also made the subject of a ten-year sexual harm prevention order and his name will go on the sex offenders register for the same period.

Have you got a story for us? You can contact us here.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to keep up with all the latest news.

To receive breaking news alerts or newsletters sign up here.

Check out our Watford crime and court Facebook page here.