A MAN allegedly sent indecent images to paedophile hunters posing as a 14-year-old girl, a court heard yesterday.
Police claimed Carman Azouz spent weeks engaging in sexual online chat with what he believed was a child, and also tried to set up a meeting in Belfast.
The 38-year-old Algerian national was arrested on Sunday at the suspected rendezvous point in Botanic Gardens.
Azouz, of Cameron Street in the city, denies all charges including attempting to meet a person under 17 for the commission of an offence.
He faces four further counts, including communicating with a person using the fictitious name "Sophie" for sexual gratification, and inciting her to make and distribute an indecent photograph of a child on dates between July 28 and August 17.
Appearing before Belfast Magistrates' Court in handcuffs, an emotional Azouz shook throughout the hearing.
Bail was opposed amid claims he poses a danger to the public.
An investigating detective said a paedophile hunter group had posed as a 14-year-old girl for 20 days of online chats.
He claimed the man they communicating with sent pornographic videos and images to "Sophie" and told her he wanted to have sex.
"He also invited the alleged child to meet with him at Botanic Gardens," the detective said.
"This man has gone to such lengths and demonstrated a sexual interest in children."
Azouz claims it was a friend of his who contacted a website through a mobile phone, the court heard.
Defence solicitor Norman Shannon said the paedophile hunters then started "harassing" his client.
District Judge Fiona Bagnall was told Azouz has suffered from mental health issues since arriving in Northern Ireland a number of years ago following a terrorist incident where his parents and sister were killed.
Refusing bail, however, Mrs Bagnall held: "At this point in time I think this gentleman is a danger to the safety of the public."
