A MAN who encouraged a 14-year-old girl to expose herself to him on a webcam has been ordered to undergo a treatment course for sex offenders.

Karl Scramell, aged 36, of Watt Street, Horwich, was sentenced at Bolton Crown Court for making and possessing indecent pictures of children and inciting a 14-year-old girl to perform sexual acts.

Police raided his home last October and found moving images of the topless schoolgirl on his laptop and records of sexually explicit chatroom conversations in which Scramell had encouraged her to take her clothes off, said Alaric Bassano, prosecuting.

The clips of the girl clearly showed that she was wearing school uniform, the court heard.

Mr Bassano said that the girl was traced and said she had met Scramell, who claimed to be 15, on the internet.

He had also transferred the footage to a mobile phone.

Scramell admitted 13 counts of possessing an indecent photograph of a child, He also admitted 10 counts of making an indecent photograph of a child and four counts of inciting sexual behaviour at an earlier hearing.

Graham Robinson, defending, said Scramell, was suffering from schizophrenia and depression at the time.

Judge Timothy Clayson said: "You realise that what you have done is wrong and to some extent recognise that your behaviour needs to be addressed."

As well as being ordered to undergo three years of treatment, he was made to sign the Sex Offenders' Register for five years.