Wrestling ref jailed over grooming boy
he was bisexual with a leaning towards men.
While awaiting his court appearance, Burns breached his bail by attending a venue where the club hosts sessions, and has remained on remand since.
He admitted one count of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity at his first crown court plea hearing.
Mr Clemo told the court that Burns had been convicted of a similar incitement offence when he was 15 and had received a community order.
He said Burns, who also went by the fake name of Pete McLoughlin, had been on the sex offenders’ register when the offence took place earlier this year and during his involvement with the club.
The victim did not return to the wrestling club.
Judge Thomas Teague, QC, imposed a sexual harm prevention order but dropped a condition that would have prohibited Burns from attending private football matches and grounds. This had been requested after investigators discovered pictures of teenage boys’ backsides on Burns’s phone, apparently taken while he was at football matches.
Judge Teague said the risk would be covered by other conditions, and that any prohibition could end up too sweeping.
Jo Maxwell, tasked with defending Burns, said her client had shown remorse, and realised he had a problem which he was now trying to address having contacted organisations including the Lucy Faithfull and Greater Lives programmes.
She said Burns had suggested he would plead guilty with basis of plea at the earliest opportunity and was a young man who could be rehabilitated.
Miss Maxwell added that Burns had issues with anxiety, immaturity, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and learning difficulty.
She said he had a genuine interest in wrestling, and that he ‘takes great pride in his involvement in wrestling as a ring announcer and someone who can officiate’.
Judge Teague sentenced Burns to 12 months in prison, and imposed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, a four-year restraining order, and ordered that he remain on the sex offenders register for 10 years.
His victim cannot be identified for legal reasons.
Jailing Burns, Judge Teague said his request to the boy was a ‘bizarre and disturbing form of sexual gratification’.
He said: “It’s obvious to me I’m afraid you went to the club and certainly cultivated the acquaintance of (the victim) in order to commission the offences of the present kind.
“I’m not saying you don’t have an interest in wrestling but clearly part of the motivation was to gain access to young boys of this age.” ●