A man who “transformed” a seven- and 15-year-old boy into “male prostitutes” by paying them cash to film them touching each other was jailed for six years.

For five years, 67-year-old Michael Muscat filmed the two boys naked performing sexual acts on each other and sometimes made them watch the video.

The man pleaded guilty to producing and being in possession of child pornography, taking part in sexual acts with a minor, defilement and misuse of technology.

It all started when, in 2006, Mr Muscat lured the seven-year-old from the beach in Birżebbuġa to his house, situated nearby, with the excuse to play with his dog, Police Inspector Priscilla Caruana explained to Magistrate Jacqueline Padovani.

The visits became regular, taking place every day at about 3.30 p.m. when the boy would play computer games while Mr Muscat groped him and touched his chest. After each visit, Mr Muscat would pay him between €3 and €20.

Despite the groping, the boy continued to visit Mr Muscat regularly, giving in to temptation.

Then, Mr Muscat started to pester the boy to bring other children. The seven-year-old approached another boy, 15, who had complained he was broke and took him to Mr Muscat’s house.

After settling on €30 each, the two agreed to perform acts on each other while Mr Muscat filmed them and then the three watched the video together. Mr Muscat did not pay the agreed amount in full but instead paid one €25 and the other €5.

The next day, the boys returned to Mr Muscat’s house for another film to be produced. He paid them €17 each.

Mr Muscat once paid the seven-year-old €40 to allow him to perform a sexual act on the boy. The boys said they never touched or kissed Mr Muscat.

Magistrate Padovani said the seven-year-old never had any sexual experiences before Mr Muscat touched him.

The most “overwhelming” proof of defilement was that the seven-year-old boy was “instrumental” in the defilement of another, older boy, she said.

The child was not touched once but almost every day over a period of five years and was lured into Mr Muscat’s home through “subtle deceit”. Another child was being abused and the two boys were being paid a “small fortune,” she noted.

A “considerable amount” of child pornography was also found on his computer and video camera, including of children aged nine and younger.