However, when officers seized his electronic devices they found nearly 200 sex-abuse images and videos featuring other children.
The defendant, aged in his 40s, appeared in the Christchurch District Court yesterday where Judge Brian Callaghan continued his name suppression and granted bail.
Crown prosecutor Robin Bates said he would argue for imprisonment when the man was sentenced but an electronically monitored penalty was "not entirely out of the question".
Court documents said the defendant met his victim several years ago and gained the trust of the boy’s family to the point where they allowed them to travel around the region on overnight trips.
Other young people were often present on the excursions, but that did not stop the man targeting his victim.
Over more than two years, the defendant would communicate with the boy on social media and bought him gifts.
A summary of facts catalogued the escalating sex attacks.
The defendant would occasionally sleep in the same bed as the victim and lie behind him with his genitalia exposed through "baggy underwear".
The abuse even took place at the boy’s home.
The man would wait until the early hours of the morning to enter his bedroom.
"On numerous occasions the defendant kissed the complainant on his arms, wrists, head and bare feet," the court heard.
"The defendant would often change the complainant’s clothes while [he] was in bed."
On another occasion, the man got into bed with the victim as another boy slept on the floor.
He sucked the victim’s fingers before performing a sex act.
Court documents said the defendant videoed some of the indecent conduct.
On November 22 last year, police executed a search warrant at the man’s home and seized his phone, computers and hard drives, which contained 195 objectionable publications.
He admitted "kissing and massaging" the victim, as well as rubbing the boy’s feet against his face.
"He explained that he loved the complainant and that it reminded him of ... his own relationship with his parents," the summary said.
"He denied that his behaviour was sexually motivated."
The defendant was convicted two counts of indecent assault, committing an indecent act, possessing and making an objectionable publication.
He will be sentenced in May.
