WATCH MOMENT BAR WORKER ADMITS CHATTING TO 'BISEXUAL BOY' AS HE'S CORNERED BY PAEDO HUNTERS AT STOKE-ON-TRENT PUB
Ratcliffe, of High Street, Tunstall, had believed he was communicating with a 'bisexually curious boy' when he sent nude photos and encouraged him to masturbate.In fact, the 'boy' was a decoy.
The 31-minute film - which was live-streamed on Facebook - starts with the hunters arriving at the scene before challenging Ratcliffe.
The defendant admits he has 'possibly' been speaking to under-18s before confirming he recognises the photo of the 'boy' he had been chatting to.
A woman can then be heard asking him why he is sending a child indecent images, to which he replies 'I don't know'.
Ratcliffe also claims to not know how many children he has been speaking to online, denies having a sexual interest in children, and states he was drunk when he sent the messages.
He was handed a three-year community order as a direct alternative to a prison sentence when he appeared at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court this week.
He admitted attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity between September 30 and November 30; and attempting to cause a child to look at images of a person engaging in sexual activity on November 30.
As part of the community order Ratcliffe must complete a sex offender group work programme, a rehabilitation activity requirement for 30 days, and 150 hours unpaid work.
Judge Paul Glenn said: “You are of previous good character.
You have now lost your good name.
You engaged in conversation via social media over a number of weeks, but in fact only on a limited number of occasions, with a person you believed was a 14-year-old bisexual boy.
In fact it was an adult who describes himself as a paedophile hunter.
You made various comments and unpleasant suggestions to him.
You repeatedly asked for pictures.
You told him you were horny.
You sent a picture of yourself naked.
You told him you were watching gay porn and sent a video of a man, you say not you, masturbating.
You encouraged the child to masturbate.
You lost your job and accommodation immediately following your arrest and have suffered from a reaction in the community since then.
Ratcliffe was made the subject of a five year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and was placed on the sex offenders’ register for the same period.
He was barred from a range of activities involving children and vulnerable adults.
And he was ordered to pay £900 costs.
