A pervert who targeted a ‘schoolboy’ on social media by sending him bondage snaps was caught after his victim turned out to be an undercover police officer.
Spirit Traum was the administrator of a street hockey Facebook page when he began sending sexual messages to '13-year-old Josh’ who was a member of the group.
Traum, 22, sent explicit photos and videos of himself as well as obscene messages to the boy’s social media account over a week long period in September 2021.
Read more - Woman, 45, dies walking on busy East Lothian carriageway after being hit by vehicle
Edinburgh Sheriff Court was told the youngster was actually an undercover police officer tasked with catching online perverts by setting up fake social media accounts.
Police arrested the predator just hours after he tried to arrange to meet ‘Josh’ near to his Edinburgh home.
Traum pleaded guilty to charges of attempting to communicate indecently with an older child and attempting to meet someone he believed was an older child with the intention of engaging in unlawful sexual activity at a court hearing last month.
He returned to the dock for sentencing on Monday where a sheriff issued a conduct requirement whereby he is banned him from having any unsupervised contact with children under the age of 17.
Sheriff Christopher Dickson also placed Traum on the Sex Offenders Register for three years and on a supervision order for the same length of time.
Traum, of the capital’s Fountainbridge, was also ordered to carry out to 150 hours of unpaid work in the community.
Defence agent Mary Moultrie said her client suffered from “difficulties with a lack of social boundaries” and that his home had been attacked following previous press coverage of the case.
Previously the court heard the undercover officer sent a request under the guise of ‘Josh’ to join a Facebook group on street hockey where Traum was one of the administrators.
Traum began sending explicit images to Josh over the course of seven days and stated he was the person in the photos including one image where he was naked and tied up.
Fiscal depute Alan Wickham said the accused was “regularly reminded” the boy he was chatting to was only 13 but continued to bombard the lad with requests including asking if he was “smooth or hairy”.
Mr Wickham said Traum continued to send explicit images and videos and asked for nudes of Josh to be sent in return.
The court was told Traum then attempted to meet up with the boy to play hockey but had also told him “you might get f****ed after”.
Traum admitted to attempting to communicate indecently with an older child and attempting to meet someone he believed was an older child with the intention of engaging in unlawful sexual activity on September 28, 2021.
READ NEXT:
Edinburgh home 'stuck in time' after owners 'poisoned' even has table set for tea
Edinburgh bar bosses saddened as customer complains of server's 'hostile manner'
One of Edinburgh's oldest pubs reopens after campaign by locals
West Lothian play worker pulled young boy to his feet by his hood and dragged him
Blogger shares incredible Northern Lights pictures above Edinburgh
