Boy given 'final warning' over Facebook pornographic video

A 14-year-old boy who posted a pornographic video involving himself and a girl on Facebook has been given a "final warning" by police.

The boy, from Cheltenham, was arrested for making and distributing an indecent image.

The video of him and the girl, also 14, which lasts a few seconds, has since been taken down from Facebook - although it is feared to have been viewed by people across the country.

Police said the sex was consensual.

A spokesman for Gloucestershire Police said: "We received a report of a video being posted to a Facebook page of a sexual act between a 14-year-old boy from Cheltenham and a 14-year-old girl from the Forest of Dean.

"We know parents may be concerned by this incident.

"We would obviously advise people not to upload any material of this nature to social media websites."

'Lack of dignity'

The final warning means the incident will remain on the boy's record for the next six years.

Lawrence Montagu, head teacher at St Peter's High School, a Roman Catholic school in Gloucester, has warned parents about the video - but emphasised it did not involve any of his pupils.

Writing in a school newsletter, he said: "I am led to believe that this video involves young people from schools in Gloucestershire but not, I emphasise, St Peter's.

"However, I know that the video has been viewed by students in St Peter's and I have spoken to the school about the lack of dignity and self-respect people have who allow themselves to be portrayed in such a way."

He added: "It is very sad that our young people are exposed to such pornography, but as you are aware it is one of the evils of modern technology.

"We simply have to continue educating the young to reap the benefits that modern technology offers but not to fall into the trap of misusing it."

Facebook said the material had been taken down as it breached the terms all members sign up to when joining the social networking site.

A spokesman said: "We strongly encourage anyone who creates a page or group on Facebook to use the specific privacy controls to manage the pages or groups they set up, and block or ban anyone who tries to post offensive content.

"We also encourage our users to continue to use our tools to report objectionable content so that we can investigate reports and take action."