A PERVERT who made a boy watch him commit a sex act over the internet has been jailed for 21 months.

Jordan Branney pretended to be a child on the messaging site ooVoo to get in touch with a 12-year-old boy on September 6, 2016.

On the site Branney claimed to be Ashley Noonan and added a picture of a child to his profile.

Robert Elias, prosecuting, told Bolton Crown Court: “There was a text message style conversation during which the caller, who was the defendant, became both threatening and abusive.”

Branney claimed to be a martial arts expert who would beat the boy up.

He then repeatedly tried to video call the boy, who rejected them before eventually accepting a call.

“The boy saw the torso of a male, dressed in boxer shorts, masturbating,” said Mr Elias.

“The defendant had filmed himself using his phone

“The boy sensibly terminated the video call.”

But Branney continued sending the boy sexual text messages.

“He reassured the boy that no one would know,” said Mr Elias, who added that Branney, at one point, claimed to be aged 13.

Branney then became abusive and kept trying to call the victim so the boy told his mother what was happening and she screenshot the messages and contacted police.

Officers traced Branney, 28, to his home and he admitted masturbating in video messages, but claimed he had only done it with adults.

He was charged, but while on bail he committed further sexual offences.

Police went to a caravan at Ellenshaw Works, Kay Street, Darwen, where they found a mobile phone in a microwave.

Between August 9 and 18, 2017 Branney had downloaded 159 indecent images of children onto it and then deleted them.

Branney, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children and causing a child to watch a sexual act.

Alison Heyworth, defending, stressed that Branney, of Mallett Crescent, Doffcocker, is “not sophisticated”, has not offended since and has continued to work.

“It is clear that there is remorse with hindsight,” said Miss Heyworth.

Judge Timothy Stead told him: “If your actions couldn’t strictly be called grooming, they were certainly persistent in seeking contact with this boy.”

He added that his pre-sentence probation report was not impressive.

“Unhappily, the level of denial of any sexual wrongdoing is almost complete. You denied any sexual gratification.

“I cannot have any real faith in you engaging with a non-custodial order.”

Judge Stead also placed Branney on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years.