A SCHOOLBOY said to be confused over his sexuality used his mobile phone to film other boys changing.

A victim who was naked was surprised to see a mobile phone appear under a cubicle wall.

He heard it clicking and he covered himself up with a towel.

When it happened again, he tried to stamp on the phone with his foot, a court was told.

A complaint was made and the youth, a boy aged 14 at the time, was identified from CCTV as someone who entered the changing rooms at the time.

Police were informed, the boy's phone was examined and seven such photographs taken at cubicles were discovered on it.

It turned out that a similar complaint had been made previously but it had been dealt with internally by the school.

The youth, from the Mold area who had never been in trouble before, admitted seven charges of voyeurism between November 2017 and March last year.

He also admitted making by downloading 17 category B indecent images and 76 category C images from the Internet, together with possessing 16 prohibited images of children.

Prosecutor Rhian Jackson told North East Wales Magistrates Court at Mold that the ages of the boys in the internet photographs were between seven and 15.

Interviewed, the boy agreed that he had taken photographs under cubicle walls in changing rooms but said he did not know why.

"I didn't really think about it at the time. I just did it," he said.

The boy said the other photographs had come about from internet use.

He said he was confused about his sexuality.

Asked if he got aroused by the photographs, he replied: "Not really."

He said he would have looked at them and then deleted them.

The boy told the court that he did "regret the whole thing".

He now knew he had done wrong, was receiving counselling and now appreciated the effect it had on others.

District judge Gwyn Jones said it was a stark choice between a detention and training order and a referral order.

While the youth was physically mature there were other aspects of his development which had not progressed at the same pace.

He had personal issued that he had kept to himself.

The judge said he had read an extremely detailed report from the youth justice team and in the circumstances he had decided to make a 12 month referral order which was, he said, not an easy option.

His behaviour would be challenged but he would also be offered support and guidance.

A deprivation order was made in respect of his mobile phone and the youth was ordered to register with the police as a sex offender for two-and-a-half years.

A police application for a sexual harm prevention order was adjourned until next month.