A MAN who believed he was engaging in a sexually-charged conversation with a 13-year-old girl was, in fact, speaking with an adult, a court heard.

Scott Cross, 34, used the ‘Kik Messenger’ application to speak to who he believed to be a teenage girl, Colchester Magistrates’ Court heard.

The court was told the conversation, which was “sexual in nature”, was, in fact, conducted with an adult.

Cross faces charges of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity and attempting to cause a child to watch or look at an image of sexual activity.

During a short hearing, he was not asked to enter pleas, but the court was told he intends to admit the charges at the first opportunity.

Scott, of Talisman Walk, Tiptree, was released on conditional bail until a hearing at Ipswich Crown Court on April 21.