NORFOLK MAN PAID TEEN BOYS FOR IMAGES OF THEM TOUCHING THEMSELVES
A man who pretended to be a young girl paid young boys to send him images and videos of them playing with themselves, a court has heard.Ricky Seaman, 31, had communicated with teenage boys on platforms like TikTok, stating he was a girl and was 14 when in fact he was 28 at the time.
Norwich Crown Court heard Seaman, who has worked as a boat builder, had encouraged the teens to send him images and pictures of themselves touching themselves sexually.
She said Seaman had told the boys he would pay them more if they touched themselves more vigorously.
Miss Shirley said it was discovered a number of payments of £10 had been made to the boys.
Seaman also communicated with another 16-year-old boy who he sent indecent images to and encouraged him to film himself committing sex acts.
Seaman appeared in court on Thursday having admitted three counts of causing or inciting sexual exploitation of a child aged 13 to 17.
The defendant, from Tunstead Road, Hoveton, also admitted three counts of making indecent images of children.
The offences occurred between June and September 2021.
As part of a police investigation into the offences, a number of devices were seized from Seaman on which indecent images and videos - including three videos at category A, the most serious - were found.
Recorder James Waddington said these were "serious offences" in which he had "exploited" young boys.
But in passing a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years, he said the wider community would be better served if he was rehabilitated.
He must attend an offender behaviour accredited programme for 40 sessions and carry out 15 days rehabilitation activity requirement (RAR).
Andrew Thompson, mitigating, said Seaman was a "vulnerable" adult with learning disabilities and mental ill health.
He said Seaman, who has no previous convictions, also suffers from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and finds it easier to communicate with younger adults or children.
He said he was "unaware" his actions were criminal but entered guilty pleas at the first opportunity.
Seaman was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for 10 years and also put on the sex offenders' register, also for 10 years.
