October 2015

Man awaits fate after admitting string of child sex offences

A man is in prison awaiting his fate after he admitted a string of child sex offences at Teesside Crown Court today.

John Macdonald, 38, pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a very young boy and causing or inciting him to engage in sexual activity.

He also admitted possession of three types of illegal images between March 2013 and August 2014.

He had 363 indecent photographs of children, including 104 at the most severe category in law.

He also had 275 “prohibited images of children” and 21 “extreme pornographic images of a grossly offensive, disgusting or otherwise obscene character”.

Macdonald, of Warwick Street, Ayresome, Middlesbrough, was remanded in custody until sentencing in the week starting November 9. He will be on the sex offenders’ register.

The judge, Recorder Anton Lodge QC, told him: “You’ve pleaded guilty to very serious offences.

“But to your credit you’ve admitted them and you’ll be given credit for pleading guilty today. That is very much to your credit in a case like this.”