A PAEDOPHILE gasped and yelped in the dock as he admitted arranging for children to be sexually abused in the Philippines.

David Crookes, 66, of Link Road, Canvey, looked on the brink of collapse as he admitted heinous child sex offences at Southend Crown Court on Friday.

He was also caught with hundreds of images of people having sex with pigs, horses and dogs.

As he was locked in the dock and a court clerk began reading the list of offences, Crookes began gasping for air and looked on the brink of tears.

Dressed in a beige, button-up jumper, he admitted offences against children in Essex and abroad as young as nine. He was then set free on bail until his sentencing hearing this summer.

At the hearing he admitted two charges of arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sexual offence in the Philippines, one charge of causing or inciting the sexual exploitation of a child in the Philippines, and one count of attempting to arrange or facilitate a child sex offence.

He also pleaded guilty to causing a 13-year-old child to watch a sexual act and causing or inciting a nine-year-old child to engage in sexual activity.

In addition, he pleaded guilty to a series of offences of making indecent images of children.

He had four still images and eight videos at Category A – the most severe type of images, showing penetrative or sadistic abuse of children.

He had 71 still images and 16 videos at Category B, and 78 still images and one video at Category C.

He pleaded guilty to a final charge of possessing extreme pornographic images, namely 394 still images and 14 videos.

A defence barrister said Crookes had previously been “a man of good character” with no prior convictions.

“He is aware that custody is inevitable,” she said. “I would ask that between now and the sentencing date, Mr Crookes is admitted to bail. He has been on bail for several years. He has had his passport for the duration of his time on bail. There have been no issues with him absconding.”

She said he wanted to “get his affairs in order” before he went to prison. His sentencing was adjourned to on or about May 27.

“I’m prepared to admit you to bail for the meantime,” said Judge Ian Graham. “Because of your pleas of guilty, you will be liable to sign onto a register, so please do not leave court until you sign the appropriate papers.”