A TEENAGER has appeared before a Worcester court charged with making vile, sexually explicit comments about a little girl on Facebook – the day a man was charged with her murder.

Sam Busby told magistrates he was “looking for attention” when he made a series of sexually explicit comments about five-year-old April Jones.

She went missing from outside her home in Machynlleth, Powys, Wales, on Monday, October 1. Despite a huge search, her body has never been found.

Busby, of McIntyre Road, St John’s, put a “joke” about the little girl on the social-networking site on Saturday, October 6 – the day a friend of April’s family Mark Bridger was charged with her murder, said Matt Dodson, prosecuting, Mr Dodson said the 18-year-old then followed it up with several “very unpleasant” comments claiming to have carried out vile sexual acts on her body despite other Facebook users reprimanding him for his messages.

Yesterday at Worceter Magistrates Court Busby pleaded guilty to using a public communication network to send a message that was grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character.

Mr Dodson said while one user labelled him a “class A idiot” another contacted police and said she felt sickened by the comments which she claimed could have caused distress to April Jones’ family as Busby’s page could be viewed by anyone, the court was told.

During a police interview read out in court Busby said he was “an immature teenager who wanted to get some attention”.

He told officers he thought his page could only be viewed by friends but admitted a couple of comments had come from people he did not know.

Belinda Ariss, defending, said: “The facts are very unpleasant, Mr Busby is deeply ashamed and has deleted the comments and deactivated his Facebook account.

“He’s very sorry and made a full admission to police.”

She explained that he had been so ashamed of the comments that he asked his parents, who were supporting him, to stay out of the courtroom.

“They don’t know the comments he has made but they know the messages are very bad,” she added.

Busby had no previous convictions and works full time.

Chairman of the bench Gerald Heath indicated he was considering a community penalty, but adjourned sentencing until Wednesday, November 7, so that reports could be carried out.

Busby was released on conditional bail.