A MAN who was raped as a child has avoided jail for encouraging children to engage in sex acts.

Leo Mitchell, 25, of Tintern Avenue, Westcliff had sexual conversations with a number of boys online and encouraged them to perform sexual acts.

He appeared at Basildon Crown Court yesterday where he narrowly avoided an immediate prison sentence.

The court heard he had a difficult childhood, was bullied and raped by an older school boy.

Prosecuting Allister Walker said: “Police searched his home in May 2019 and seized an iPhone and found extensive sexual conversations with a number of young lads.

“In some of the conversations he made sexual suggestions and kept asking for images of the boys and also for video conversations.

“He has no previous convictions but one of the boys sent indecent images and he kept them.

“The most serious offences involve very explicit images and indecent images of children.”

The offences date back to 2017 and 2018.

Mitigating John Caudle said: “There’s talk of abuse when he was a child but not from his family. He was raped by a school mate and when the person was identified he found out this person was serving for an identical matter and police told him nothing else would be done about it.

“He was also bullied due to his mental health conditions and questions about his sexuality.

“He is extremely remorseful.”

Sentencing Mitchell, Judge Samantha Leigh told him she had considered all the factors in the case.

She said: “You admitted these offences earlier this year and I bear in mind what I know about you. There’s also been a passage of time of almost three years and these were attempts. There is no repeat of the behaviour and you’ve taken positive steps since.”

He was sentenced to three years and five months suspended for two years and ordered to compete 60 days rehabilitation requirement days and a community sentence treatment programme.