A MAN has admitted rape and other sex offences involving young girls.

Fifty-seven-year-old George Bell will be sentenced later this month after offering 'guilty' pleas to three of five charges he faced, offences alleged to have taken place earlier this year.

He admitted rape of one girl, attempted rape of another and sexual assault on a third, all girls aged under 13.

Each was said to have taken place between May 15 and June 1 this year.

He denied further charges of rape and sexual assault, both also said to have involved girls aged under 13, during a hearing at Durham Crown Court.

Following the pleas, Mark Giuliani, prosecuting, told the court: "All parties have been spoken to and the victims have been consulted via the appropriate channels.

"As a result the prosecution can accept those pleas put today."

Tony Hawks, for Bell, said: "The prosecution was informed earlier, in August, what those pleas would be, but we would ask for sentence to be adjourned to allow reports to be drawn up on Mr Bell by the probation sex offenders' team and a psychiatrist."

Recorder David Gordon agreed and adjourned sentence to allow the necessary reports to be prepared.

He remanded Bell, of Ridley Avenue, Chester-le-Street, County Durham, in custody, to be brought back for sentence during the week of October 15.