A former Cumbria police officer has been told he faces a jail term after admitting more child sex crimes.

Nicholas Pool appeared at Carlisle Crown Court today. The 29-year-old sobbed in the dock as he pleaded guilty to 11 offences during a short hearing before Judge Peter Davies.

These include six counts of attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity - between 2013 and 2016. Pool also admitted both making and possessing indecent photographs of youngsters, and one count of publishing an obscene article.

Some of the illegal images are classed as category A - the most serious.

Pool had previously appeared at the crown court in January, when he admitted three other incitement crimes committed late last year. It emerged during today's hearing that the full extent of Pool's offending only came to light after those initial charges were laid.

Background reports were ordered, the case was adjourned and Pool, previously of Newton Rigg, near Penrith, was remanded in custody.

He is due to be sentenced on April 28, but was told by Judge Davies: "You must look forward to a custodial sentence."

Pool, a former police constable, is said to have been off-duty when the offences occurred. He was dismissed without notice from the force at a misconduct special case hearing last month.

After he was sacked, the force's Chief Constable Jerry Graham said: "Speaking at the hearing, Mr Graham said: "Having fully considered all of the evidence of the criminal offences that PC Pool has fully admitted, I am shocked and dismayed by his behaviour.

"It is very difficult to comprehend the paradox between his professional responsibilities to protect vulnerable people and his personal conduct which, if it had come to fruition, would have place vulnerable people at great risk.

"The public will share the anger and bitter disappointment of his colleagues regarding his deplorable conduct.

"PC Pool has brought disgrace upon himself and the constabulary who employed him, in good faith, to protect communities.

"The public may take some reassurance from the fact that it was proactive policing that uncovered and exposed his appalling criminal behaviour and brought him to justice.

"In light of all of the evidence, it is clear that PC Pool's moral compass is so distorted that he is unfit to be a police officer and I have no hesitation in dismissing him without notice."