A MAN has admitted multiple sexual offences against children spanning five years and is set to be put behind bars.

Matthew Clarke, 23, admitted carrying out the offences, which involve 13 victims, between 2015 and last year.

The court heard 12 of the victims would be providing statements detailing the impact of Clarke’s crimes ahead of a sentencing hearing.

Clarke admitted 12 counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, six counts of making indecent images of children, one count of assaulting a child by penetration, one count of sexual assault of a child, five counts of causing a child to watch a sexual act, three counts of sexual communication with a child and two counts of sexual activity with a child.

He denied two counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child, two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and one count of blackmail.

Joanne Eley, prosecuting, said the Crown would offer no evidence in relation to each of the counts denied by Clarke, aside from the blackmail charge, which she requested be left to lie on file.

The court heard the charges relate to Clarke either engaging children in sexual activity, sending sexually explicit footage of himself to children or requesting explicit footage be sent on to him.

Clarke’s barrister Charles Conway said: “The crux of his mitigation is his pleas of guilty, his age at the time of some of the offences and credit of a 25 per cent reduction which should be given.”

Mr Conway said while in custody, Clarke had “expressed a desire” to undertake courses to tackle sexual offending.

He said: “He is absolutely determined these offences do not occur again.”

Clarke, of Delamere Road, Colchester, was remanded in custody until a sentencing hearing at the same court on September 24.

Judge Martyn Levett said: “This case cannot proceed any further today because some more information is required, not least a report on the issue of whether you become a dangerous offender.”