Shropshire man admits 'web cam sex' with child

Defendant Ian Nicholas Mottram, who is 22 but was 20 at the time of the offences, also got the girl to send her an indecent photograph of herself.

But Mottram, of Oaklands Road, Chirk Bank, escaped an immediate prison sentence at Mold Crown Court on Friday after a psychologist said that his actions were directly related to Asperger's syndrome and other conditions he suffered from.

Judge Rhys Rowlands also hit out at the delay in the case, which dated back to 2013.

The defendant, he said, had got in touch with the child over Skype and behaved very badly towards her.

They had conversations of a sexual nature, he asked her to indulge in a sex act on herself while he watched. He said would also engage in a similar act – but the girl did not do as she was asked and had simply pretended to do so, said the judge.

Mottram had also got her to send a naked photograph of herself.

While he had his problems, she was still a child, the judge told him.

Judge Rowlands said that he did not understand why the matter had taken so long to get to court, as the victim's family had been horrified by what they had found and had promptly involved the police.

They handed the Facebook and Skype entries over to the police and he was first interviewed in August 2013.

He was not interviewed again until August 2014 although the report from the hi-tec crime unit which analysed his computer and phone was dated in February.

The case did not reach court until November of last year.

Mottram admitted two counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. He pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child over the internet and possessing the indecent photograph of her.

Judge Rowlands imposed a two year prison sentence wholly suspended and placed him on supervision so that he can follow a one-to-one sex offender programme.

Mottram was placed on a six-month tagged curfew between 8pm and 7am. and was ordered to register as a sex offender for 10 years.

A 10-year SOPO (sexual offences prevention order) was also made.

The judge said that he accepted the defence submissions that it had put the defendant and his family under strain.

"But I am more concerned about the young girl and her family," he said.

"They must have been wondering what on earth was going on her."

The delay was not of his making, he had admitted the offences at a preliminary stage, had no previous convictions and crucially there was a psychological report which said that his behaviour was directly linked to his asperges syndrome.

The prosecution accepted those findings and while it was a very serious case, it was unusual and not typical of its type.

He imposed a two year prison sentence wholly suspended and placed him on supervision so that he can follow a one-to-one sex offender programme.

Mottram was placed on a six month tagged curfew between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m. and was ordered to register as a sex offender for ten years.

A ten year SOPO (sexual offences prevention order) was also made.

The defendant admitted two counts of inciting a child under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity.

He pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child over the Internet and possessing the indecent photograph of her.

Prosecutor Jayne La Grua said that part of the delay involved police investigations into further allegations but they had come to nothing and involved older girls.

The alarm was raised by the victim's father who found inappropriate Facebook and Skype conversations between her and the defendant.

It turned out that the defendant appeared to prefer the company of younger people, it was alleged that he had been involved in a relationship with another young girl, and then contacted the victim.

He spoke of meeting up with her and they spoke of having sex. While they had met it was always in the company of others and nothing physical happened.

Interviewed, he admitted having "web cam sex" with her.

After his arrest he had admitted breaching his bail by having contact with another girl, aged 14.

Mark Connor, defending, said that his client was not a high risk of re-offending. The psychological assessment of him was crucial.

It was clear that if the guidelines were followed in his case then it would lead to an unjust sentence in his case.

The offences occurred when he was lonely, immature and he had found himself more on a par with her socially.

But he now appreciated how wrong it had been, he had learnt his lesson, and it was clear that he would benefit from and would accept the one to one counselling he would receive.

References referred to him as not being predatory but kind hearted and eager to please.