A predator used a street hockey Facebook group to groom a ‘schoolboy’ who turned out to be an undercover cop.
Spirit Traum was the administrator of a social media group dedicated to the sport and was contacted by ‘13-year-old Josh’ who wished to join.
Traum, 22, started sending explicit photos and videos of himself to ‘Josh’ along with obscene messages.
But the youngster was actually a police officer tasked with catching perverts online by using fake accounts.
Police swooped on Traum hours after he tried to arrange to meet ‘Josh’ near his Edinburgh address.
Traum appeared at the city’s sheriff court on Tuesday and pled guilty to attempting to communicate indecently with an older child.
He also admitted attempting to meet someone he believed was an older child with the intention of engaging in unlawful sexual activity.
Fiscal depute Alan Wickham said the officer posing as Josh sent a request to join a Facebook group on street hockey where Traum was one of the administrators.
Mr Wickham said: “Josh was pretending to be interested in learning the game.”
Traum began sending explicit images to Josh over the course of seven days, the court heard, and stated he was the person in the photos, including one where he was naked and tied up.
Mr Wickham said Josh told the accused he was 13 and “regularly reminded” him of his age during their conversations.
Trauma asked the ‘teenager’ if he was “smooth or hairy”, later adding: “I like boys smooth.”
Mr Wickham said Traum continued to send explicit images and videos and asked for nudes of Josh to be sent in return.
The prosecutor said: “It was suggested by the accused that they meet. The accused stated he wanted to meet Josh to play hockey but went on to state, ‘You might get f****ed after’.”
Police detained Traum at his home in the city’s Fountainbridge area on September 28 2021, and he was taken to Dalkeith police station.
Defence agent Mary Moultrie said she would present submissions on Traum’s adverse childhood and history of trauma as mitigation during sentencing.
Sheriff Chris Dickson deferred sentence on Traum until next month for reports.
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