A bricklayer has admitted sending an unsolicited video to a 17-year-old girl of himself performing a sex act.

Christopher Quilliam, aged 47, of Central Promenade, Douglas, said that he had sent the video accidentally by rolling onto his phone.

He admitted an offence of sending a grossly offensive message by telecommunications and was fined £500 when he appeared in court this week. Three other women also said they had received unwanted naked images from Quilliam.

Prosecutor Hazel Carroon told the Deputy High Bailiff that, on August 12 at 10.55pm, the teenager received a video lasting 17 seconds on her mobile phone from him through Facebook.

The teenager is not friends with him on Facebook and said that she did not reply to the message.

He was arrested at his home and his phone was seized.

In a police interview Quilliam said he would have been drinking heavily at the time but admitted making the video, saying he intended to send it to someone else.

He claimed he must have rolled onto his phone while asleep and sent the message to the teenager by mistake.

Further naked picture messages were found, which had been sent to three other people.

In his interview, Quilliam claimed he did not know who two of the women were but admitted knowing one of them, saying that he was intimate with her and that she did not normally react badly to such messages.

He again said that he must have sent the messages by accidentally rolling onto his phone.

Defence advocate Peter Taylor said: ’Mr Quilliam has admitted this has happened with other consenting people who agreed to accept the messages.

’The danger is inadvertent sending can always occur. It was absolutely a mistake.’

’He was drunk at the time and on holiday. He can only ask for the court to show mercy.’

Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes asked the prosecution if it was accepted the video was sent inadvertently and Ms Carroon replied that there was no way they could refute the claim.

Mrs Hughes told Quilliam: ’You are entitled to make videos of yourself masturbating if you wish to do so but you have to accept the consequences.

’You are perhaps fortunate not to be before the court for a more serious offence.’

Quilliam was also ordered to pay £125 prosecution costs.