A PAEDOPHILE who has already served one jail term for child sex offences has pleaded guilty to a string of additional crimes against children.

Ian William Strickland, from Barrow, was jailed last July caught by paedophile hunters Dark Light in May 2018.

Police had been called after the group confronted him at his home in Wordsworth Street.

Strickland pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, one count of attempting to meet a child under 16 after grooming, one count of attempting to engage in sexual activity with a child and one count of attempting to engage in sexual activity with a child - no penetration.

His name will be on the sex offenders register for the next 10 years - the same length of time as the sexual offence prevention order also handed to him.

After serving his sentence he was released on licence but was then charged with a further four offences relating to incidents between February and April of last year.

At Preston Crown Court on Friday Strickland, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to communicating with a 12-year-old girl and trying to persuade her to meet him; communicating with a 13-year-old boy and trying to persuade him to meet him; communicating with a second 12-year-old girl and trying to persuade her to meet him; and having seven indecent photographs of children.

The charges state the images were of children with a South East Asian appearance.

Strickland, 43, will return to the court in June to be sentenced.

An NSPCC spokesperson said: “Strickland’s sickening behaviour is an example of the potential danger that young people face online every day.

“Following the NSPCC’s Wild West Campaign, the Government has announced it will bring in laws to protect children online. It is vital these include an independent regulator for social networks and grooming alerts for young people’s accounts.”

Adults with any concerns can call the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000. Children can call Childline on 0800 1111.