8. (1) A person who by means of information and communication technology communicates with another person (including a child) for the purpose of facilitating the sexual exploitation of a child by that person or any other person shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years.

(2) A person who by means of information and communication technology sends sexually explicit material to a child shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to a class A fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or both, or

(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years.

(3) No proceedings for an offence under this section against a child under the age of 17 years shall be brought except by, or with the consent of, the Director of Public Prosecutions.

(4) In this section “sexually explicit material” means any indecent or obscene images or words.

(5) In this section “child” means a person under the age of 17 years.