A PAEDOPHILE who groomed a boy online inciting him to perform sex acts has been spared jail.

The 15-year old victim - who cannot be named for legal reasons - was so traumatised he later took an overdose of paracetamol, a court heard yesterday.

Joshua De-Banks, of Three Corners Road, Oxford, had already admitted sexual communication with a child and causing a child to engage in sexual activity.

The 20-year old appeared at Oxford Crown Court for sentencing yesterday.

The court heard that De-Banks was caught out after police seized his iPhone last year during an investigation and a string of messages to one child victim were discovered.

Among the messages De-Banks asked the boy to engage in sex acts and naked images were also discovered.

During interview De-Banks initially denied any wrong doing and falsely claimed that his victim was in fact a 22-year old flight attendant.

He later admitted both counts before his sentencing yesterday.

In mitigation at the hearing his defence barrister Nerida Harford-Bell said that her client was 'immature' and the age disparity between him and his 15-year old victim was not great.

He was handed a 24-month jail term for the two offences, suspended for two years and made subject to a community order.

That order will include 35 rehabilitation activity requirements days, 120 hours of unpaid work, a condition of residence and participation in the Horizon programme, aimed at tackling his offending.

He must also pay a victim surcharge and sign the sex offenders register for life.