Belfast man awaiting sentence on child sex charges

Ciaran James McAuley – who is already serving a prison sentence for sexually assaulting a nine-year-old boy in an alleyway – appeared in Belfast Crown Court after he admitted two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

The court heard that McAuley also asked the teenager to send him a photograph of his genitals.

Both incidents occurred last April when McAuley was on bail over charges arising from the alleyway incident.

Last December McAuley was jailed for two years for the sex attack on the boy, which occurred in August 2014 after the young victim and his friend were walking home from a fun fair.

Judge Gordon Kerr QC will pass sentence next Tuesday.