A WOMAN was left disgusted after a man performed a sex act on himself over a video call before offering to clean her son’s carpets.

Craig Webb, 45, denied exposing himself to his victim after he was arrested, but was convicted of the charge following a trial at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court.

Appearing at the same court yesterday for sentence, Kathy Wilson, prosecuting, outlined how Webb had been known to the victim and had occasionally exchanged messages with her.

In January last year, Webb messaged the woman to tell her he had started a carpet cleaning business.

As her son had recently moved into a flat and could potentially require such a service, the victim made a call to the number listed on his business page and spoke with Webb’s partner.

There was no further communication until February 18, when the victim received a message from Webb on Facebook.

Ms Wilson said: “She said it was general chit-chat about the weather and she saw shortly after that he had tried to video call her.

“She tried to return the video call but there was a poor signal, and the call wouldn’t connect, so she went outside the building and the call connected. She said she was shocked by what she saw.”

The victim saw Webb masturbating and quickly ended the call.

Ms Wilson added: “He then messaged her asking her why she’d cancelled the call.

“She told him she wasn’t interested in watching his perverted acts, he apologised and asked if she still wanted him to clean the carpets at her son’s flat.”

In a victim impact statement, the woman said: “This was something I had never chosen to see and it’s hard to put that dreaded image out of my mind.”

Ian Clift, mitigating, said the case could be treated as an isolated incident.

He said Webb has significant health issues, no previous convictions and remains unemployed after his attempts to start a carpet cleaning business with his partner proved unsuccessful.

Magistrates imposed a community order, requiring Webb, of Cambridge Road, Colchester, to complete a 40-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

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