Jailed: Philip O'Brien

Socially inept Philip O’Brien spent hours alone in his bedroom playing roles in the online games in which child characters were abused and tortured.

A stunned court listened in silence to how one such game would end if the child character died and the player would have to start over again.

Sentencing 19-year-old O’Brien to eight years detention with an extended one year licence Judge Andrew Hatton said: “You had been an active player in these games and you saw a game through to reality by sexually abusing this girl.”

Sign up to our daily newsletter The i newsletter cut through the noise Sign up Thanks for signing up! Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting...

He said that his involvement in the games came to light after police seized his computer after the victim told her shocked mum what he had done to her. As well as 302 prohibited images of children the internet games were also found.

“Games involving sexual abuse and torture were found on your computer, particularly babysitting scenarios,” said Judge Hatton.

He pointed out that when quizzed by the child’s parents and later the police he denied the allegation of orally raping the girl who consequently had to go through the ordeal of giving evidence via video link at a pre-trial hearing.

Sarah Holt, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court that the offence came to light in May last year after the girl suddenly announced to her mum that he had abused her.

Her devastated mum asked her to repeat what she had said which she did and after discussing the matter with her husband and relatives the police were informed.

The case was listed for trial but this was postponed so material on his computer could be examined and 302 prohibited images of children were found as well as the internet games.

One of these involved “children” aged between one and nine being abused, tortured, mutilated and burnt, she said.

O’Brien, of Broomfield Terrace, Ince, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to oral rape. He does not face any charges relating to the indecent images.

Zia Chaudhry, defending, said that O’Brien, who was 18 at the time of the offence, is an intelligent college student but is “somewhat socially inept and immature.”.

He became involved with the games after someone sent him a link and he developed “a morbid curiosity and began to conduct various searches on his computer. These searches revealed the games outlined today.”

Mr Chaudhry said that they were not human children but cartoon characters including Sonic the Hedgehog.

“Despite his activities on the computer the incident was isolated and not planned and he had not groomed the girl. “He took advantage of her on one occasion,” he said.