His crimes were exposed when horrified mum checked her son's Xbox
The armed forces veteran then claimed he was not aware that he was committing any crime. While the dad has been spared an immediate prison sentence, a judge warned him yesterday: "If I see you again, you should expect to go to prison."
Liverpool Crown Court heard on Monday afternoon that the 17-year-old victim had been "looking for work doing odd jobs and gardening" and was told by a friend that Ratcliffe may require his services. Having contacted the 56-year-old, of Poynter Street in St Helens, on Facebook, the two subsequently arranged to meet up
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Cheryl Mottram, prosecuting, described how the boy thereafter began to carry out work in Ratcliffe's garden. But he then started messaging the teen to "ask if he was horny" and suggested that the two perform a sex act together in what he termed "races".
Ratcliffe went on to pay the complainant £50 to take part in such activity on a number of occasions. The boy also agreed to be paid £140 in order to allow the defendant to perform oral sex on him as he wanted the money to attend a music festival.
However, the teenager's mother grew concerned over his behaviour and discovered Ratcliffe's abuse after checking her son's Xbox and finding a series of messages between the two. The youngster was said to have become "distraught" and burst into tears at this stage, being taken to hospital in a "complete state" as a result.
Ratcliffe, who has no previous convictions, went on to state in a basis of plea, which was accepted by the prosecution, that he "wasn't aware that it was a sexual offence to pay for the sexual services" of a person aged 17. He also maintained that their activity had been consensual, having occurred over a period of nine weeks.
Louise McCloskey, defending, told the court: "This is clearly a serious case, one in which the defendant has been open and honest about the difficulties that he has faced. That is to his credit.
"The Probation Service feel he is somebody that they would be able to work with in order to support him to reduce what is already classed as a low risk of reoffending in the future. While a period of imprisonment would mark the seriousness of the offence, it would have a significant detrimental impact on his already fragile mental health and would be an obstacle to the intervention and progress that the defendant has made so far.
"The defendant clearly has already taken steps to address some of his difficulties. He is a man of hitherto positive good character, given his background. He has strong personal mitigation, in terms of the impact that his time in the forces has had. A custodial sentence would involve that loss of his home. It would impact negatively on his mental health and have a significant impact on his father and his son."
Ratcliffe admitted one count of paying for the sexual services of a child. Appearing in the dock wearing a grey t-shirt and red Adidas shorts, he was handed an eight-month imprisonment suspended for a year.
Sentencing, Judge Stuart Driver KC said: "There is a lot of mitigation here. You are of previous good character. Indeed, you have a positive record of military service.
"I accept that an unusual feature of the case is that you were not aware that you were committing an offence, because the activities that you conducted with a 17-year-od were not themselves unlawful. It is the paying for them that is an offence.
"You have poor mental health and you have sought treatment, which is underway. If I see you again, you should expect to go to prison."
Ratcliffe will be required to complete a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 10 days and a six-month alcohol treatment requirement. He was also handed a 10-year restraining order.
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