A WINDERMERE man has been told he must sign the sex offenders’ register after admitting a string of child sexual abuse image crimes.

Robert John William Lishman, 37, faced a total of five charges when he appeared at Carlisle Crown Court yesterday morning.

Lishman pleaded guilty to making more than 800 indecent photographs of children - 361 being classed in category A, the most serious of the categories; 184 in category B; and 268 in category C.

He also admitted to having possession of 12 extreme pornographic images involving a person engaged in sexual acts with animals; and he further admitted possessing two prohibited images of children.

These offences are all said to have taken place between May 18 of 2019 and February 20 last year.

The court had heard that Lishman, of Birkfield Road, Windermere, was a man without any previous criminal convictions.

Judge Nicholas Barker agreed that a pre-sentence report should be prepared by a probation officer, and adjourned the case for several weeks.

Lishman is due to receive his punishment from a crown court judge on February 3.

In the meantime he was granted unconditional bail and told by Judge Barker that, as a result of his guilty pleas, he must now comply with the notification requirements by signing the sex offenders’ register.

The exact length of time for which he must do this will be determined at the sentencing hearing.