A 32-year-old man has been found guilty of sexually abusing a minor by arousing himself during an online call whilst watching the boy’s feet.

“It was a form of manipulation,” the victim told the court.

Ahmad Ali Younes Ikbarh has been sentenced to five years imprisonment and payment of expert expenses amounting to €2,073. He was also found guilty of corrupting two teenage girls, Newsbook reported.

Ikbarh got in touch with the boy through social media, and eventually invited him to a Skype call – where he never showed his face.

He would ask the minor for requests through messages, asking him to send photos of his feet. The minor initially didn’t pay much attention, but as the interactions became increasingly unusual, he became aware of their sexual nature.

Ikbarh even blackmailed the victim, saying that if he tells anyone, he would post his photos on social media.

The boy’s parents eventually found out and reported the case to the police.

The two other known victims had received images of Ikbarh’s genitalia but did not directly interact with him.

The victim told the court of his trauma from the experience with Ikbarh, his shock, fear, and detachment – “trying to get rid of the memory”.

At the defendant’s request, the trial, overseen by Judge Aaron Bugeja, occurred without a jury.

The court noted that the man was aware of his issue and should have sought help earlier.

The prosecutor, Angele Vella, emphasised how the defendant took advantage of the victim’s vulnerabilities as he also pretended to be a woman, so as to gain his trust.

Lawyers Angele Vella and Danika Vella prosecuted, representing the Office of the Attorney General. Lawyer Joe Brincat was defence counsel.

“In today’s world, the virtual world has become real,” observed the judge in his conclusions.

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