A WORKINGTON man has been put on the Sex Offenders’ Register after he admitted three child sex offences.

Thomas MacFarlane, 32, entered guilty pleas to three offences when he appeared at Carlisle Crown Court. The defendant, of Charles Close, Workington, admitted the the following:

* Attempting to cause a child to engage in sexual activity between March 7 and March 31, 2019.

* Attempting to cause a child to cause a 13-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity.

* And attempting to cause a 13-year-old girl to look at an image of sexual activity.

All three offences are said to have happened over the same time period and in all three offences the defendant was said to have been motivated by a desire to seek sexual gratification. No further details of the offences were outlined in court.

Prosecutor Kim Whittlestone said the Crown Prosecution Service would not seek a trial on a fourth sex offence which the defendant denied.

Sean Harkin, for MacFarlane, said that he had concerns about the defendant’s level of functioning, commenting that he suffered from PTSD as the result of a house fire.

The lawyer also asked the judge for a psychological report on MacFarlane.

Judge Nicholas Barker told the defendant: “Thomas MacFarlane, you have pleaded guilty to three matters and the prosecution doesn’t seek a trial on the count you have pleaded not guilty to.

“I have adjourned sentenced so that pre-sentence reports can be prepared by the Probation Service. You must understand that these are serious offences and the court will consider custody as one of the options available to it.

“You should not assume that because sentence is being adjourned and reports ordered, that custody will not be the outcome. It may well be.

“You should prepare for that.” The judge said that the defendant’s guilty pleas and his resulting convictions meant that he must now sign on to the Sex Offenders’ Register.

How long he will be on it will depend on his ultimate sentence. MacFarlane will be sentenced on April 21.

The defendant was granted bail until the day of his sentence.