Explicit e-mail ref is sentenced

League referee and teacher Gary Lewis admitted the offences

A Football League referee, who admitted e-mailing sexually explicit images to a 14-year-old boy, has been given a three-year community order.

At Cambridge Crown Court, teacher Gary Lewis, 33, of Haddenham, Cambs, was also ordered to undergo a sex offender's treatment programme.

Lewis was also banned him from working with or contacting children.

In September at Ely Magistrates Court, Lewis had admitted two offences against the teenager.

Sara Walker, prosecuting at Cambridge Crown Court, said two pornographic images had been sent and messages exchanged via the internet.

'Sexual gratification'

Ms Walker said: "He (the boy) was asked about what he had been getting up to with his girlfriend."

Lewis later admitted getting "sexual gratification" from the boy's responses, Ms Walker said.

Graham Russell, mitigating, said Lewis had found it difficult to come to terms with his sexuality.

Lewis had "gone through the motions in a heterosexual relationship" but "engaged in sexual activity with men over a webcam", he said.

Mr Russell added: "He was a virtual homosexual struggling to come to terms with his sexual identity."

The court was told Lewis, who taught in two secondary schools, had resigned from his post.

The Football League website said Lewis began refereeing in 1988, became a Football League assistant referee in 2000 and joined the league referee's list in 2004.

As he left court on Friday, Lewis said: "Hopefully today draws a line under everything.

"I'm sorry for what I did. Today is hopefully the start of the rest of my life and I want to forget it and move on."