Pervert from Hartlepool admits to making and distributing indecent photographs of children

Martyn Vaughan, 26, from Hartlepool, had no previous convictions for similar offences, his barrister told Teesside Crown Court.

Vaughan pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual conversations with a child between November 2017 and May last year.

He also admitted two charges of making indecent photographs of children between October 2017 and January last year after police discovered two Category B images and 22 Category C images on his mobile phone.

Vaughan, of Kildwick Grove, Hartlepool, also pleaded guilty to distributing indecent photographs of a child.

Stephen Constantine asked the judge for a psychiatric report to be prepared on Vaughan before he is sentenced.

Mr Constantine said: “He has no previous convictions for similar offences.

”I would invite you to consider a psychiatric report.”

Judge Deborah Sherwin said that a pre-sentence report might assist in reaching a decision whether a psychiatric report was needed. The defence can make the application on the basis of the report.

Vaughan was remanded on bail until February 5 and he was ordered to register as a sex offender.

The judge told him: “I can’t sentence you today because there needs to be reports on you before I can pass sentence.

”But you should not take that as any indication as to what the sentence will be, all sentencing options will be open.”