A PERVERT who was trapped by paedophile hunters was warned by a judge he is facing a prison sentence.

Timothy McCarthy, aged 60, from Sherbourne Court, Sebastopol, Pontypool, pleaded guilty to eight sex offences against children when he appeared before Newport Crown Court.

The charges included attempting sexual communication with a child under 16, attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming, attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act, namely a video recording.

The offences took place between last July and March this year in Pontypool.

The prosecutor in the case was Timothy Evans.

The case was not opened to the court.

Owen Williams, defending, said: “My client has pleaded guilt on an unqualified basis. He is a 60-year-old man with no matters recorded against him.”

His barrister asked that sentence be adjourned so that a report on McCarthy could by prepared by the Probation Service.

Mr Williams added: “He suffers from physical ill health and mental ill health. He is in custody. There is no application for bail.”

Judge Daniel Williams agreed to postpone sentence for a report to be made.

He told McCarthy: “You have pleaded guilty. The next step is for the court to sentence you.

“I can’t sentence you without the assistance of the Probation Service who will prepare a pre-sentence report.”

The judge warned the defendant however that the report would probably only determine how long that sentence would be.

The case was adjourned until Friday, May 10.

McCarthy was remanded in custody.