A NORTH-EAST man took pictures of a paedophile sexually abusing children, a court heard.

When police raided David Bell's home in Morris Street, Birtley, near Gateshead, they discovered more than 5,100 child pornography images on his computer.

Bell, 44, appeared at Warwick Crown Court, and pleaded guilty to causing a two-year-old boy to engage in a sex act with his co-accused Jonathan Scarcliffe, 37.

He also pleaded guilty to two charges of committing sexual assaults on young boys.

He further admitted three charges of taking indecent images of boys, three of making indecent images by downloading them, two of possessing specific indecent images of boys and one of possessing 5,108 other child porn images.

Scarcliffe, of Kennedy Square, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, pleaded guilty to seven charges of taking indecent pictures of young boys, two of distributing the images, two of making indecent images by downloading them and one of possessing 1,398 child porn images.

He also admitted one charge of committing acts of gross indecency with boys and three of engaging in sexual activity with children.

Michael Burrows, prosecuting, said Scarcliffe sexually abused a two-year-old while Bell took pictures.

Scarcliffe sexually assaulted an eight-year-old boy in June last year while Bell again took pictures of the acts.

Both men denied various charges of abducting the boys who were abused, and those pleas were accepted.

Barristers for the two men, who were of previous good character, asked for pre-sentence reports to be prepared, and for a psychiatric report on Scarcliffe.

The case was adjourned until April for the reports, and both were remanded in custody.