A bright student posed as a 14-year-old teenager on Facebook to try to get a 12-year-old girl to send him indecent photos of herself, a court heard.

Joseph Strowger, 22, who is studying for his Masters degree in computer science, chatted with the girl asking her questions of a sexual nature and requested her to send him a topless picture of herself, Norwich Crown Court heard.

Claire Matthews, prosecuting, said that Strowger was arrested after the family of the girl contacted police about the matter as the victim had been deeply upset and badly affected by what had gone on and realised she had been 'silly' in sending him a photo.

Miss Matthews said it was then discovered that Strowger had been behind the conversations with the victim, and had been posing as the 14-year-old boy.

Miss Matthews said when Strowger's phone and laptops were seized and analysed by police it was found that he had also downloaded indecent images of children and also extreme pornographic images.

He was also found to have secretly filmed women while they were getting undressed and changed in a room and he had kept the footage.

She said none of the victims had any knowledge they had been secretly filmed when contacted by police about the images.

Strowger, of Longwater Lane, Costessey, admitted attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity. He also admitted possession of indecent images and voyeurism.

Jailing him for four years and placing him on the sex offender's register for life, Judge Andrew Shaw said that offences of this kind would not be tolerated by the courts.

He said the victim he had contacted on Facebook had been affected deeply by what happened. and had to undergo counselling.

'It has had a big impact.'

Stefan Hyman, for Strowger, said he was a bright student studying for his MSc in computer science and said the offence was just an 'attempt.

'There was no contact between the defendant and complainant.'

He said Strowger had shown real remorse and said: 'He is beginning to understand the consequences of his behaviour.'

He said there had been no distribution of any images and he would benefit from taking part in an intervention programme.