A teenager allegedly sent naked images of other children to his brother and revealed a desire to commit rape, the High Court has heard.
He used Facebook and his Xbox games console to forward the unwanted photographs for more than a year as part of his “weird obsession” with young people, it was claimed.
Police were also told the 17-year-old, who was living at a care home in Northern Ireland and cannot be identified, made graphic comments related to the three girls killed in the Southport knife attack.
He faces charges of making, possessing and distributing indecent images of children, along with a further count of improper use of a public electronic communications network.
The alleged offences were committed over a period between the start of January 2023 and August 8 this year.
During a bail application prosecutors said police were alerted earlier this month after the defendant’s teenage brother informed staff at separate residential facilities.
He claimed the accused had been sending him naked photos of children estimated to be aged between five and 10.
“He alleged the images were sent via Facebook and Xbox, and that he was also shown them in video-calls,” a Crown lawyer said.
“He reported that he was receiving them (from the defendant) several times a week for over a year.”
The boy told police his brother had ignored all requests to stop sending the material to him.
“He stated that he had never asked to see any pictures and when he received them he was left angry and upset,” counsel added.
“He alleged that his brother has a weird obsession with young people and told him that he wants to rape young children.”
It was further claimed the defendant sent a report on the fatal stabbing of three young girls in Southport last month.
According to his brother’s account, he accompanied it with a graphic remark about their deaths.
Mr Justice McFarland was told the accused made no comment during police interviews and refused to provide the passcode for his phone.
Bail was opposed due to his plans to go back to live at the home alongside other vulnerable children
“We are extremely concerned about the offending and comments allegedly made by this applicant,” the prosecutor submitted.
“The proposed bail address is a children’s home, and there are a number of vulnerable young children residing in that address (in the western trust).”
A defence barrister insisted there were no allegations of direct contact offences against any child.
“These alleged images may have been taken from elsewhere on the internet, yes naked children, but nothing over and above that,” she submitted.
“It would seem, preliminary, it’s at the very lowest end of the scale in terms of offending behaviour.”
But the judge stressed how the accused was seeking release to live at facilities alongside other children.
Adjourning the bail application, he requested a risk assessment from the relevant authorities.
Mr Justice McFarland told the defence: “If this is what’s happening under Trust control one can never be terribly confident as to what control staff exercise over your client”.