A YOUNG lifeguard encouraged children to perform sex acts on themselves over Skype in exchange for computer games, a court has heard.

Adam Tanner, of Dale Valley Road in Poole, was just 18 when he abused two boys under the age of 13 whom he had met through his work.

Police were alerted after a complaint was made about inappropriate text messages sent to one of the children.

The 20-year-old has now been warned that he faces a prison sentence after admitting the offences.

Heather Jackson, prosecuting, said the defendant became friends with some of the boys at the leisure centre where he worked and began to exchange texts with them.

After police became aware of messages sent to one of the boys, Tanner’s computer was seized.

“It was found that he had been having Skype and video camera messages and conversations had been recorded by him,” Ms Jackson said.

“There were eight films of Skype conversations where he had encouraged boys to perform sex acts in front of him with a web cam.”

The prosecutor added that there was an “element of grooming” to the offences.

“The conversations had built up over some time, and part of the conversations involved him offering computer games in exchange,” she said.

Tanner admitted two counts of causing or inciting a boy under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity, three of causing a child to watch an image of sexual activity, and seven of possessing indecent images of children at Bournemouth Magistrates’ Court.

He was committed to Bournemouth Crown Court for sentence after being told by magistrates that their powers were too limited.

The defendant, who is on bail, will next appear before a judge on August 29 at 10am.