A photo of a naked 16-year-old boy was found on a man’s phone, a court heard.

Simon William Cooper, aged 47, of Egremont Road, Whitehaven, admitted possessing an indecent photo of a child.

Magistrates in Workington heard that Cooper and the teenager had exchanged numerous texts of a sexual nature, and the photo was one of these messages.

Diane Jackson, prosecuting, said Cooper had given his phone to the police because he was the victim of a different incident. It was then that officers discovered a naked picture of a male on his phone.

Mrs Jackson said there was a text conversation of a sexual nature on Cooper’s phone, which included a naked photo of the other sender, who was 16.

Mr Ian Nancollis, defending, said his client and the other party had been in contact via a website which people have to be over 18 to access.

Mr Nancollis said: “Cooper believed the age of consent for images is the same as the age of consent for sex. He thought it would be lawful to keep the photo.”

“Unfortunately he is caught out by his own misunderstanding and ignorance about what the law is.”

Magistrates adjourned the case until May 27 at West Cumbria Courthouse for pre-sentence reports.