Belfast: Man given probation order for child sexual grooming

He admitted offending during a police interview and said he was “ashamed” of what he had done.

He accepted he sent photographs and acknowledged the sexualised conversations he had with Reece which he described as “banter” and that he was driven by “curiosity”.

O’Brien told a probation officer that he had sexual communications and he had arranged to meet with what he thought was a 14-year-old boy.

He said that over the years he had come to question his sexuality. He had online conversations with men, and met men for sexual encounters.

O’Brien described his behaviour as “disgusting”, but said he did not have sexual interest in children, saying he wanted to meet the teenager out of curiosity and that he had no specific intention when he met him.

His defence said that following the father-of-one’s arrest, he has undergone counselling, which is “ongoing,” adding that O’Brien and his wife remained married.

He said the defendant took no issue with the terms of the Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO).

“We are already 18 months post offence and there has been no further offending.

“He has honoured all bail conditions, he is a first-time offender and cooperated fully with police.”

The Probation Board said O’Brien, who has a clear criminal record, did not pose a danger to the public and he was assessed as a low likelihood of reoffending.

Imposing the three-year probation order, the judge said he would be put on the sex offenders register for five years and will be the subject of a SOPO for an identical period.