October 2014 Lifeguard who encouraged children to perform sex acts on themselves over Skype has been jailed   A lifeguard who encouraged children to perform sex acts on themselves over Skype has been jailed for two-and-a-half years. Adam Tanner, now 20 but aged 18 at the time of the offences, groomed and abused three boys under the age of 13. Tanner recorded videos of their on-line exchanges and also showing them footage of him performing a sex act on himself. Bournemouth Crown Court heard Tanner offered to reward the boys for their actions with ‘coupons’ which could be used on-line to buy video games. “This case is far, far too serious for anything other than a prison sentence to be passed,” said Recorder Robert Linford at the hearing. “By Skype it may have been, but it was still child abuse, persuading boys of that age to do what they did for reward for your own gratification.” Tanner, of Dale Valley Road in Poole, had pleaded guilty to: two counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity – two of causing a child to watch sexual activity – seven of possessing indecent images of the children involved – the nine Skype videos and a still image. He received concurrent two-and-a-half year jail terms for the first two offences, and concurrent four month terms for the other offences. Prosecutor Anita Gibson-Lee said there was no suggestion Tanner, who worked as a leisure centre lifeguard at the time, had ever arranged to meet the boys in person, but he told police at interview he was attracted to young boys. In mitigation, Tom Hill said the defendant’s Asperger’s had contributed to his offending, according to a psychiatric report. “In my submission Asperger’s has been a factor in that grooming behaviour,” he said. “He has very limited social awareness, he struggles with having empathy for others, he simply does not recognise their emotional responses.” He said Tanner claimed to ‘identify emotionally’ with boys, and that ‘early experiences’ in his life may have contributed to his crimes. He said Tanner felt remorse now he was aware of the impact on his victims. Tanner, who has no previous convictions, was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years and a Sexual Offences Prevention Order was also imposed for 10 years.