Akbar Abdollahi, 31, denied four counts of sexual activity with a child but was found guilty by a jury. He will be deported after serving his time.
Bolton Crown Court heard that the allegations came to light when the 13-year-old posted a report about it on an Internet chat room.
The moderator of the chat room became concerned and contacted the police. Abdollahi said the boy had made it all up. But the jury believed the youngster’s account and found Abdollahi guilty on all counts after deliberating for an hour.
The Bolton News reported that the court heard the incidents happened between September 2010, and January 2011.
On the first two occasions Abdollahi touched the boy over his clothing. In the last two incidents, Abdollahi removed the boy’s clothing and his own, only to be interrupted before the abuse became more serious.
The boy gave evidence to the court by video link, and he broke down in tears when he was asked why he did not confide in his father about the abuse. “It is not something that happened all the time and I did not know how to tell him,” the youth said.
Judge Timothy Clayson said: “The total sentence is three years in prison. You will serve half of that in custody. At the time when you are released, you will be subject to deportation.”