A "FAMILY man" has admitted to grooming a teenage girl.

Thomas George Thompson has appeared from custody at North and West Cumbria Magistrates' Court, Carlisle.

The 58-year-old intentionally arranged a meeting with a child – to engage in sexual activity – in Derby, on May 15.

A guilty plea was entered for an offence between April 27 and May 15 of this year, admitting that as an adult, he attempted to meet a 13-year-old girl, following grooming for the commission of an offence under the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

George Shelley, prosecuting, told District Judge John Temperley that Thompson, of Holyoake Terrace, Penrith, contacted a girl in Derby through a number of social media platforms over a period of time, for the opportunity of engaging in a sexual act.

Police were involved in this sting operation, and this led to Thompson’s arrest.

Jeff Smith, defending, said his client is a working man and a family man, and has been happily married for 32-years, adding that these offences have completely ruined his life. Thompson pleaded guilty to both offences at the earliest opportunity.

The judge said these are very serious offences, and can only be heard at Carlisle Crown Court, and granted Thompson bail with very stringent conditions.

He will have an electronic tag house curfew until June 15, between the hours of 7pm and 5.30pm, he must live and sleep at his home address, and not meet or contact any girl under the age of 16.

Thompson will be sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court on June 15.

He must also contact the Durranhill police to register on the Sexual Offences register. A pre-sentencing report was ordered.