Lewis Westbrook groomed vulnerable teenager after meeting through Instagram

Lewis Westbrook used his Instagram page ‘Littlebooboo15’ to make contact with his 15-year-old victim.

The 20-year-old later talked his victim into sending an indecent picture of himself, after promising him a threesome with an older woman.

He was caught after carers inspected the boy’s phone and found the messages.

At Southampton Crown Court Westbrook admitted one count of sexual communication with a child and another count of inciting a child into sexual activity. He was given a two-year detention in young offenders institute.

He was also given an extended two-year licence period by a judge, who deemed him a danger to children.

Southampton Crown Court heard how initial contact was made through Westbrook’s Instagram page, which had around 1,000 followers.

The pair began messaging about parties, vaping and drugs, before Westbrook turned the conversation to sex.

Prosecutor Dan Sawyer said Westbrook then requested an indecent picture of the victim, before sending one back, as well as a video showing adult pornography.

Westbrook continued to groom his victim during the day-long conversation, which included an offer of a threesome with an older woman.

Mitigating, Mary Aspinall-Miles described the conversation as “fantasy” on behalf of Westbrook.

She said: “This is clearly fantasy.

“For example, he he says to the young man at one point ‘be right back, I’ve got to go to the shop to get some petrol and munch’.

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“He hasn’t even got a car.”

Ms Aspinall-Miles described her client as having a number of learning conditions, which caused him to be “immature”.

She said that Westbrook was homeless at the time of the offence, in September last year, and was living a “chaotic existence” by sleeping rough in a multi-storey car park in Southampton.

Judge Robert Pawson sentenced Westbrook, listed by the courts as of Lionheart Way, Bursledon, to two years’ detention in a young offenders institute.

He also handed down an extended two year sentence, which he will serve on licence.

Judge Pawson said: “I have to decide if you pose a significant risk of causing serious harm to child.

“It is in my view that an extended sentence is necessary in this case to protect the public and protect children.”

Two further counts, one of possession of an indecent image and another of inciting a child to view pornography, will lie on Westbrook’s file.