A man who asked a 13-year-old lad if he could carry out a sex act on him has been spared jail

Paul Webb contacted the victim over Facebook and even offered to meet up with the youngster.

But after saying people who commit offences like the 20-year-old went to prison a judge said it was better he got help in the community.

Hannah Squire, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court how Webb knew the young victim through mutual friends and their families.

In the autumn of 2016 she said the defendant contacted the child over Facebook and, as they had mutual friends, the victim thought it was alright to reply.

Communication between them then moved on to Facebook Messenger and started innocuously before moving on to the sexual requests.

She said "He (Webb) asks 'Where are you?'. 'Just Chilling'. 'In your room?'. 'Yeah, just chilling in my room'.

"He then moves on to a sexual nature. The defendant tells him that he has an erection. He asks the lad, has he? and 'Have you seen mine?'."

She said the youngster was very polite replying saying 'No thank you,' and 'No I don't want to', but Webb goes on to ask if he can perform a sexual act on the lad.

"Again the boy makes it very clear that this is something he is not interested in," Miss Squire said.

"He goes on to say, tells him: 'I am only 13, I am not gay and I don't want to do anything with you, sorry.' Mr Webb is very persistent, he can go round now and perform oral sex."

The lad replied 'I don't want you. Bye. You seem very nice but I am not interested,' she said.

After speaking to some older friends the victim found out who he had been speaking to and the matter was reported to the police.

Webb, of Avonmead, Haydon Wick, pleaded guilty to inciting a child to engage in penetrative sexual activity.

Gareth James, defending, said while his client had made no comment when questioned by police he admitted matters at the first opportunity.

He said that while he made the suggestions online there was no actual contact between them and he was still 18 at the time of the offences.

As a young man he said he had led an isolated life and had used the internet as a release, first gambling and then making the inappropriate contact with a young girl.

Passing sentence Recorder Michael Vere-Hodge QC said "You or others who hear about this should understand that if people do commit this kind of offence they go to prison.

"You are not going to go to prison because I think there is sufficient evidence before me that a community order is a proper alternative, as the sentencing council has set out.

"It seems to me that the public interest is best served by your rehabilitation than by sending you in to a young offenders institution in the first place for a short or moderate period."

He imposed a two year community order with 20 days of rehabilitation activity requirement, 100 hours of unpaid work and a sex offenders programme.

Webb will also have to register as a sex offender for five years.