A FORMER railway station supervisor could be jailed for performing a sex act in front of a boy as the pair of them chatted via an internet webcam.

In the summer of 2008, Leslie Booth is said to have taken off his trousers and encouraged the schoolboy to do the same.

The 51-year-old was due to go on trial at Teesside Crown Court yesterday, but admitted the offence as the case was about to start.

Booth, of Claremont Court, Thornaby, near Stockton, will return to the court next month to be sentenced.

He was given bail until his next appearance by Judge Tony Briggs, who told him: “All sentencing options remain open.”

Booth was ordered to register as a sex offender, but the length of time he is on the register will be decided when he is sentenced.

He pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child between June 1 and August 31, 2008.

The court heard that Booth was at home and the boy was at his home elsewhere on Teesside when the offence was committed.

Booth, a former supervisor at Middlesbrough railway station, met the 15-year-old through his job, and befriended him. He is no longer employed at the station.

The pair spoke on the telephone and over the internet in the months before the offence.

On one occasion, during webcam communication, Booth stripped off so the boy could see him and performed a sex act.

The boy told police that Booth asked him if he wanted to do the same.

Booth will return to the court on May 28 after reports are prepared by his doctor and the Probation Service.

Robert Adams, for Booth, said: “He has been seeing a counsellor because of the problems these allegations have caused him, as well as his GP.

“He has no previous similar offences, although he does have some historic offences of dishonesty.

The court would be assisted by a pre-sentence report.”

Judge Briggs told Booth: “Your sentencing will take place when various reports will be available to the court.

“In the meantime, your bail is renewed on the same terms, but don’t read into the granting of bail any indication of what will happen to you.”