A MAN has admitted carrying out sex attacks on two elderly women in their bedrooms.

Barrie Wilkinson, 28, pleaded guilty at Teesside Crown Court to two counts of indecent assault, relating to attacks on widows in their homes in Seaham, County Durham, last year.

He was arrested following a DNA sweep of men in the Westlea area of Seaham last summer, following the second of two attacks on pensioners as they were sleeping.

The first took place in January and involved a 78-year-old. The second, in August, was on an 87-year-old woman.

In each case they were awoken by a masked man in their bedroom after Wilkinson broke into their homes late at night.

The attacks led to widespread fear in the Seaham area and, after the second, detectives announced the move to take DNA samples from men in the area to compare with samples taken from the scene of the incidents.

Wilkinson, of Watling Avenue, Seaham, was arrested within days of the DNA sweep and was originally charged with burglary with intent to rape.

He was due to stand trial at Teesside yesterday, but after he offered guilty pleas to the indecent assault charges, prosecution lawyers agreed not to proceed on the more serious allegation to spare the elderly victims the ordeal of having to give evidence.

Wilkinson was remanded in custody pending preparation of reports and will be sentenced at the court on July 9.