Cambridge man jailed for grooming boy to perform sex acts with brother

Det Ch Kev Foxcroft said: "We will do everything in our power to protect children from predators like Richardson [pictured]."

A paedophile who groomed a teenage boy to take part in sexual acts with his younger brother has been jailed.

Leon Richardson, of Mill Road, Cambridge, sent explicit messages and encouraged the boy to take part in sexual acts with the boy's brother and send videos to him, police said.

The messages were discovered by the boy's parents, who had become concerned he had become withdrawn.

Richardson, 22, has been jailed for five years and four months.

Cambridgeshire Police said the defendant began using social media to contact the boy in October.

He sent sexually explicit images and videos of himself and asked the boy to do the same.

He also persuaded him to take part in sexual acts with his younger brother, record them and send them to him.

Richardson went on to request to meet the teenager under the guise of teaching him to play the guitar.

The messages were uncovered in December after the boy's parents checked his phone when they noticed he had become withdrawn and secretive with his phone.

After realising the conversations had been discovered Richardson visited Parkside Police Station, Cambridge, and admitted the offences.

'Utterly disgusting'

At a court hearing in January, Richardson admitted:

• engaging in sexual communication with a child

• causing a child aged 13 to 15 to watch or look at an image of sexual activity

• causing or inciting a boy under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity

• causing a boy aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity

When sentenced at Cambridge Crown Court he was also given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Det Con Kev Foxcroft said: "We will do everything in our power to protect children from predators like Richardson.

"Richardson's behaviour was utterly disgusting. Not only did he groom one child but also persuaded that child to perform sexual acts on his younger brother, film and share them.

"Phones and social media mean children can be vulnerable to those who prey on their innocence and exploit their trust."

The detective praised the boy's parents and urged others to speak with their children about online safety.