A CHILDREN'S author who admitted sexually abusing six young girls yesterday tried to withdraw his guilty pleas.

In an almost unheard of move, William Mayne said he was thinking irrationally when he confessed to his crimes.

Mayne, 76, was three days into a trial in March when he changed his plea to guilty of 11 indecent assaults.

His case at Teesside Crown Court was adjourned until yesterday for sentencing by Judge David Bryant, who warned him he faced jail.

But within days of his last appearance, Mayne sacked his legal team, saying he had been badly advised and put under pressure to change his version of events.

His new barrister, David Robson, QC, yesterday told Judge Bryant that Mayne wanted to change his pleas on the grounds that he had not been thinking straight.

But following a full day of legal argument, the judge said: "It seems to me there is no proper basis on which I could begin to exercise my discretion to allow him to change his plea.

"I have the power to accept change of plea, but it is clear that that is a very unusual course."

Mayne, of Thornton Rust, Leyburn, North Yorkshire, admitted his guilt after two accusers gave evidence that he had naked sex with groups of girls in his homes in Yorkshire and London.

The offences were said to have happened between 1960 and 1975 with five girls aged under 13 and one over 16.

Mayne, who has written a trilogy of Arthurian legends and adventure books about choirboys, went into the witness box yesterday to tell the judge how he came to change his pleas mid-trial.

But Judge Bryant said: "It seems to me what we have here is somebody who regrets his decision. It is very difficult to find an alternative way of putting it, but someone who wishes to wriggle out of it. Regret does not justify change of plea.

"Having heard him give evidence, I am perfectly satisfied he is in full possession of all his faculties."

Mayne, who has had more than 130 books including several award-winners published, also had his claims against his legal team dismissed by the judge. He will be sentenced on Tuesday.