A JUDGE has warned that a York man “took the first step” towards becoming a child abuser after he got a seven-year-old girl to film him performing a sex act.

Rebecca Young, prosecuting, said the child did not speak out for years about the incident until police raided Adrian Walton’s house and found the video, which had been shot in his house, along with other indecent images and videos of children.

The girl was identified as one who had visited Walton’s home and when police interviewed her, she told them what had happened.

Recorder Tim Roberts QC told York Crown Court: “[The defendant] took the first step to involving her in sexual activity. One can imagine what the next step would have been once he had got away with it.”

He told Walton: “ I am sure you have taken steps since that time to ensure that child’s silence. You have become embarked on a much more serious course of action.

“This court is expected to protect children and the vulnerable from people who are going to exploit them such as yourself.”

He jailed him for nine months, but suspended the sentence for two years on condition that Walton works with probation officers for two years to deal with his sexual offending and do 180 hours’ unpaid work.

He will also be on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years and subject to a 10-year sexual offences prevention order restricting his use of the internet, possession of camera equipment and any contact with girls under the age of 16.

Walton, 44, of Meadow Court, Dringhouses, pleaded guilty to engaging in a sex act in the presence of a child, 11 charges of possessing indecent images of children and three of possessing extreme pornography.

For him, Emma Bennett handed in references from work colleagues and friends.

“He has found this difficult to explain to his family. He is very ashamed of his actions,” she said.

She said the filming incident was a one-off and members of his family were supporting him.