A MAN wrote a paedophile novel using real people as his characters.

David Pates' case was adjourned at Worcester Crown Court, because Judge Andrew Geddes said he needed to know if he posed a significant risk to children in the future.

Pates' 80-page novel was seized by police during their investigation, the court was told. The fictionalised account contains names of children he knows and includes photographs of youngsters in a state of undress, said prosecutor Gareth Walters.

Pates, aged 62, of The Orchard, Powick, previously pleaded guilty to more than 40 offences which included making indecent photos of children by downloading them from the internet, indecent assault on a girl of eight or nine and taking indecent photographs of a child.

Police found he had downloaded 10,800 child porn images, either stored on a computer or printed.

Remanding Pates in custody, the judge adjourned the case until Thursday, July 19, for sentencing.