A PAEDOPHILE from Worcester who asked young girls to perform perverted sex acts hid his face at court but today we unmask him to protect the children of this city.

Anthony Patrick left Worcester Magistrates Court with his hood pulled up and wearing a mask on so that his face was completely hidden after he admitted a string of sex offences involving children as young as 12.

The bald and heavy-set 55-year-old, now of no fixed abode but previously of Great House Road, Worcester, only revealed his face in the courtroom itself and was anxious not to be identified. Today we publish his custody photo in the interests of protecting the children of Worcester.

The paunchy paedophile admitted seven sex offences involving children when he appeared before a city bench on Thursday including arranging/facilitating the commission of a child sex offence and causing or inciting a girl aged 13 to 15 (13) to engage in sexual activity involving penetration between April 10 and 21, 2018.

He further admitted causing or inciting a child under 13 (12 years) to engage in sexual activity of a non-penetrative nature, namely 'sexual chat' and arranging/facilitating an act which would involve a child sex offence between January 15, 2018 and February 20, 2018.

Patrick also pleaded guilty to three charges of making indecent images of children at categories A, B and C between October 5, 2016 and December 23, 2017. Category A images are considered the worst kind within the sentencing guidelines and contain images of penetrative sexual abuse of children.

Because one of the offences was indictable-only the case was sent to Worcester Crown Court after magistrates declined jurisdiction.

Mark Sheward, defending, said: "There will be guilty pleas to these matters at the crown court. I wonder if that could be recorded on the court file." He said the Court of Appeal was keen that guilty pleas should be recorded as early as possible and added: "I can say, unequivocally, they will be guilty pleas."

The defendant spoke only to confirm his address and date of birth at the short hearing. In the meantime a pre-sentence report is to be prepared by the probation service to assist the sentencing judge.

Because he was described as 'between addresses' his solicitor asked that any court correspondence be sent to the firm's address in Foregate Street. No mention was made of the defendant registering as a sex offender.

A further hearing will take place at Worcester Crown Court on December 17 this year. Patrick was granted unconditional bail until his next appearance.