Newcastle man facing sex charges

21 December 2011

A NEWCASTLE man has admitted five counts of indecent assault against two men.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, carried out the assaults between February 1986 and December 1992.

At Downpatrick Crown Court on Thursday he changed his pleas to guilty in advance of a trial due to start later this year.

Prosecuting lawyer David McDowell said he would provide the court with a detailed summary of his previous offending in advance of sentencing.

Judge David Smyth QC noted the defendant had been sentenced on three occasions for similar offences and urged him to co-operate with the preparation of pre-sentence reports.

“Be as frank as possible about this and about your background,” he said. “All options including further custody are open to the court.”

The man will be sentenced at Downpatrick court on February 2.

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