A FORMER sports coach used a computer game to groom young girls over the internet.

Matthew Leonard, 21, used the online game Habbo Hotel to prey on youngsters and encourage them to perform sexual acts via webcams.

The game, which has 230 million users worldwide, involves players being given an empty hotel room and they have to purchase items of furniture – known as “furnies” – to fill up the room.

Knowing children wouldn’t be able to afford to buy the online furniture, Leonard purchased it and put a message out on the website offering it for free.

Then in January, July and August last year, after developing an online friendship with the girls, he encouraged his young victims to strip off for him in front of their webcams.

Several were also enticed into committing sex acts for Leonard’s sick satisfaction.

Police raided Leonard’s home in Uplands Close, Billericay, in April last year and seized two laptops and a hard drive.

Officers searched through Leonard’s computers, where they not only found evidence of his web conversations with the girls, but also 276 indecent photographs and films depicting young children.

Leonard, who at the time of his arrest was a sports coach and worked with children, told police in interview he had been grooming youngsters online since he was 16.

At Basildon Crown Court yesterday, Leonard admitted 12 counts of intentionally causing or inciting a child under the age of 13 or 16 to engage in sexual activity and three counts of making indecent images of children. He asked for another ten charges relating to grooming to be taken into consideration.

In mitigation Mark Savage said his client Leonard was in no doubt he was going to jail.

He also asked Judge Ian Graham not to adjourn sentencing while reports are prepared, as he said Leonard wanted to begin his jail term immediately so his victims’ could have closure.

Mr Savage said: “His concern is not for himself, but for the young children who are the victim of his manipulation and abuse.”

Judge Graham said it was his duty for to ensure pre-sentence reports were completed.

Leonard was remanded in custody and will return in December for sentence.