A “SELF confessed porn addict” has avoided a jail term for abusing a teenage girl.

Kurtis Ragnall, aged 22, of Old Lane, Little Hulton, avoided a custodial sentence as Judge Elliot Knopf said “public interest would better served” if he received help in the community.

Graham Robinson, prosecuting, said: “Kurtis Ragnall persuaded the girl to engage in sexual activity.

He would ask for a kiss, followed her into her bedroom, asked for a hug and pushed her on to the bed seeking to engage in sexual activity.”

Bolton Crown Court heard yesterday that Ragnall would tell the 14-year-old girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, over Skype that he wanted to “cuddle, spank her” and join her in the bath.

The crimes came to light when an adult saw the girl’s Skype conversations with Ragnall.

Police were called and Ragnall was arrested. The crimes took place between July 1 and July 31, 2012.

Ragnall described himself to police a “self-confessed porn addict” but claimed the victim was a “compulsive liar”.

He later pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a child, attempted sexual activity with a child and 16 counts of making indecent photographs of a child.

MORE:

Sixteen images were found by police on his computer and were at level one — level five being the most serious.

Officers also found evidence of 5,800 indecent images being on his computer.

Michael Blakey, defending, said: “The defendant shouldn’t have done what he did. He is disgusted with himself.

"He was 21 at the time. He has alienated himself from his family and through me would like to apologise.”

Ragnall works as an apprentice recruitment consultant, Mr Blakey said. Judge Knopf, sentencing, said: “I don’t consider a custodial sentence is the correct way of dealing with you.

“The public interest would be best served by the imposing of a three-year community order.”

Ragnall will comply with a three-year supervision requirement where his progress will be reviewed regularly.

He was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for five years and must comply with a sexual offences prevention order for five years.